Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Developing A Vermont Nurse Triage Line: A Systems Improvement Project, Andrew D. Kehl

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Master Project Publications

Nurse Triage Lines (NTL) have been utilized since the 1970s as a healthcare service delivery model. The efficacy of their utilization has been proven in non-acute, mainly primary care settings. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in the United States, NTLs proved their efficacy in an acute emergency event. The Minnesota FluLine, the exemplar case study, showed a significant reduction in unnecessary healthcare resource utilization as well as a significant economic cost savings.

This project performed an organizational assessment for the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) focused on implementing an NTL. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews with key informants, key themes surround …

Vitamin D Screening And Supplementation, Christina Cahill

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Vitamin D helps protect against osteoporosis (by promoting calcium absorption), moderates cell growth, aids in neuromuscular and immune function and reduces inflammation. However, there is insufficient data to access the benefits and harms for screening for Vitamin D deficiency. This study looks at current recommendations for Vitamin D screening and aims to provide information to providers and patients about Vitamin D.

Improving Community Health With Affordable Internet Access, Joshua Jeremy Pothen

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Internet access is associated with increases in health information seeking and benefits in health statuses. However, many individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) lack Internet access, thereby creating significant disadvantages from a health perspective. In this project, we describe a potential project for providing affordable Internet access to a neighborhood of Newport, VT containing many SES individuals. This network includes a splash page that provides regular health event promotion and health information dissemination to everyone connecting the network. We then discuss how to determine the impacts of the Internet on multiple aspects of health within the community.

Fighting The Flu - Devising A Novel Approach To Address Patient Concerns With The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine - South Burlington, Vt, Theodore Cisu

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

In Vermont, it is estimated that influenza-like illness is responsible for $8.9 million annually in direct medical costs. The flu vaccination rate ranges from 33% to 56% across the nation, and Vermonters are vaccinated at a rate of approximately 49% each year. This program aims to provide a novel educational material to patients, specifically addressing concerns with the safety of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Development Of Guidelines For Refugee Screening At Cmmc Family Medicine Residency, Lewiston, Maine, Catherine Hayes

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Lewiston Maine has the second highest number of refugees in the state of Maine, with 191 total intakes in 2015. Refugee populations face unique health concerns, and providing care for refugees requires education and development of a specialized skill set. This project provided a reference for clinic providers to assist with medical intake screening visits for refugees.