AiRCare Health CEO Jaclyn Wainwright Joins Medical Alley Association Board of Directors

Wainwright Will Work to Elevate Awareness of Growing Mental and Emotional Health Needs and Support Much-Needed Innovation

Saint Paul, Minn. – December 11, 2020 – AiRCare Health CEO Jaclyn Wainwright is one of six Minnesota healthcare executives selected to join the Board of Directors of The Medical Alley Association, the region’s leading voice for healthcare technology innovation. In her role, Wainwright will support efforts to enable health technology and care advances and elevate the region as the epicenter of health innovation.

Her service comes at a time of growing need for mental health innovation. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of adults say they have struggled with mental health or substance use since the COVID-19 pandemic began, including anxiety, depression or thoughts of suicide.¹ Frontline healthcare workers also have increased mental health risks, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.² Yet mental health continues to be the greatest unaddressed problem in healthcare today, and 70 percent of people struggling with mental health problems never receive any treatment.

“I’m proud to bring important perspective on whole-person health to the Medical Alley Association board and ensure our region continues to support much-needed innovations for those with mental and emotional health needs,” said Wainwright.

“Jaclyn is a leader dedicated to improving outcomes for mental and emotional health. She will bring an important perspective as we continue our work in transforming the future of healthcare, and I look forward to her leadership on the Medical Alley Association Board of Directors,” said James Rogers, Chief Business Development Officer of Mayo Clinic and 2021 Chair of the Medical Alley Board of Directors.

Wainwright will serve alongside leaders across healthcare technology and care delivery, including representatives of health plans, hospitals and health systems, large technology companies and startups. These diverse perspectives across the spectrum of healthcare will help Wainwright gain new insights into their emerging needs and challenges, while serving as a voice for the importance of mental and emotional health as a core component of overall health.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn greater focus to the importance of behavioral health, and I’m pleased to serve in this role during such a critical time,” said Wainwright. In recent months, AiRCare has supported growing mental health needs by providing on-demand access to counseling and proactive outreach and support to frontline healthcare workers in Minnesota. “I’ve seen firsthand that the need for mental and emotional health support has grown exponentially. I look forward to the opportunity to elevate this need within our industry and identify solutions that accelerate progress.”

Sources:

Czeisler ME, Lane RI et al. “Mental Health, Substance Use and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Aug. 14, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm
Cabarkapa S, Nadjidai SE et al. “The psychological impact of COVID-19 and other viral epidemics on frontline healthcare works and ways to address it: A rapid systematic review.” Brain Behav Immun Health. 2020 Oct; 8: 100144. Published online 2020 Sep 17. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100144