Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Community Health Center Safety Through Participatory Co-Design, Arman Afifi, Kelsey Smith, Megan Reed, Phd, Mph, Lara Weinstein, Md, Mph

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Introduction and Objective

Pathways to Housing PA (PtHPA) is a permanent supportive housing program with a mission to end homelessness for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. This urban based program serves approximately 500 people and has an on-site integrated healthcare clinic. The PtHPA offices temporarily closed in October of 2020 after a serious onsite safety event. In preparation for reopening, the PtHPA community sought to cultivate a safer space through utilizing co-design as a vehicle to solicit feedback from program participants and staff. Co-design research is a collaborative approach where researchers and stakeholders—such as community members, …

Enhancing Diabetes Management With Visual Tools: A Multimodal Approach For High-Risk Urban Populations, Mikyla R. Futz, Jesse Edwards, Md, Fhm

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background & Objective

Patients from historically marginalized communities face disproportionate barriers to diabetes mellitus (DM) management due to limited health literacy, language discordance, and a lack of culturally responsive educational resources. These structural challenges contribute to poorer glycemic control, higher complication rates, and reduced adherence to recommended care. While visual communication tools have demonstrated efficacy in improving comprehension, self-efficacy, and disease outcomes in chronic illness, their integration into diabetes care remains limited and inconsistently implemented.

Visual interventions may be particularly impactful in populations with low health literacy or limited digital access, yet few have been embedded into routine outpatient workflows. …

Enhancing Primary Care Navigation For D/Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Patients: A Wayfinding Intervention Proposal, Mikyla R. Futz, Mary L. Micou, Robert S. Pugliese, Pharmd, Bcps, Jesse Edwards, Md, Fhm

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

Auditory-dependent healthcare environments present persistent barriers to patients who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH), particularly where verbal instructions and auditory notifications dominate communication workflows. This contributes to delayed access to care, decreased satisfaction and strained patient provider-relationships, and significantly higher hospitalization rates —16-21% for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, respectively. Additionally, these patients experience higher rates of chronic conditions, lower health literacy, and reduced healthcare satisfaction. Existing interventions are often fragmented and narrowly focused, failing to capture the heterogeneity of d/DHH patients’ needs. This project introduces a scalable, continuous solution grounded in inclusive design principles …

Curricular Impact: Training Dpt Students To Look Upstream, Rebecca Operacz, Pt, Dpt, Edd

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background and Problem

• Healthcare literature highlights extensive health inequities and continued mistrust of the healthcare system among historically marginalized communities.
• Accrediting bodies advocate for inclusion of SSDH in training to prepare practitioners to address health inequities.
• Limited guidance exists regarding implementation of SSDH content or expectations for student clinicians.
• Effectiveness of education is typically measured by metrics with little connection to patients and populations (GPA, graduation rates, licensing exams).

Incorporation Of The 4ms, With A Focus On Mentation, Into The H&P For Older Adults Hospitalized With A Hip Fracture And Its Effect On Delirium Documentation, Emily Custer, Do, Kristine Swartz, Md, Lily Ackermann, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

Delirium affects 15% to over 50% of patients with hip fractures during their hospital stay (1) and is associated with increased mortality, increased length of hospital stay, poorer functional outcomes, and higher risk of nursing home placement (1,2). However, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the prevalence of documented delirium post-hip fracture is only 5.22%, suggesting potential under recognition. Additionally, at the end of 2025, a new CMS inpatient quality metric will require public reporting on a hospital's capability to provide age-appropriate care for older adults, which can be done by utilizing the 4M framework of age-friendly health care. The …

Animalistic Intimacy: The Role Of The Cat In Asian American Self Actualization, Evelyn Riley

Articulāte

No abstract provided.

Volume 30

Articulāte

No abstract provided.

Echoes Of The Plague: The Black Death And The Evolution Of Religious Music In Medieval Italy, Emily Bost

Articulāte

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Large Language Model Fidelity For Complex Surgical Reasoning And Planning In Rib Fracture Stabilization, Tino Castanon Md, K. E. Foley Md, J. Brewer Md, A. A. Smith Md

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Recommendations For Telesupervision: Promoting Ethical, Legal, And Effective University And Clinical Supervision Using Technology, Madeleine M. Stevens, Yegan Pillay, Edisa Music, Elena Shahen

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The expansion of the use of technology in counseling has implicated counseling professionals in considering how to legally and ethically incorporate it into all facets of practice, including university and clinical supervision settings. In this article, we provide scholarship-backed recommendations for doing so as well as provide suggestions for incorporating psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) supervision models into telesupervision.

Training Experiences Of School Counselors-In-Training To Address Child Maltreatment: A Phenomenological Study, Zachary Pietrantoni, Szu-Yu Chen, Caroline Vollaro, Margiolis Lopez, Justin Santos

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explores the experiences of six school counselors-in-training (SCIT) in addressing child maltreatment through a hypothetical vignette, providing an in-depth understanding of their experiences. Four main themes and five sub-themes emerged, providing insight into their preparedness and challenges faced. These findings highlight critical areas for improvement in training programs to better equip SCIT for addressing child maltreatment in schools.

Master-Level Counseling Students’ Experiences Of Completing A Group Memoir Project In A Human Development And Counseling Course, Yiying Xiong, Shuxin Cheng, Xuelin Sun

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the experience of eight master-level students in completing a group memoir project in a Human Development and Counseling course. The project required students to read a memoir and analyze the character using human development theories with a group of students. Adopting a phenomenological approach, themes were generated to describe the students’ experiences, including making the course more engaging, contextualizing diverse human development experiences, building emotional connections with the characters, developing critical thinking about application of human development theories, enhancing learning experience with teamwork, and balancing the structure and flexibility in the project. Implications for counselor educators were …

Graduate Counseling Students’ Preparedness To Practice Tele-Mental Health, Clarissa L. Salinas, Eunice Lerma, Valerie Leija, Javier Cavazos Vela, Elizabeth Zamora

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This qualitative study explored counseling graduate students’ preparedness to provide telemental health during their internship experience. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 Latine counseling graduate students’ who attended a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The following themes emerged following data analysis: (1) Challenges with Establishing Personal Relationships and Telepresence with Culturally Diverse Clients; (2) Lack of Preparation to Use Evidence-based Practices to Handle Ethical Dilemmas and Crisis Interventions; (3) Cultural Competency and Diversity; (4) Engaging Activities in a Telemental Health Counseling Environment; (5) Additional Training and Practice with Technology; and (6) Lack of Preparation to Use Telemental Health Counseling. Implications for …

Preparing Counselors For Practice With Immigrant Clients In Court Proceedings: Framing Required Knowledge, Attitudes, And Skills Within The Msjcc, Kalina M. Brabeck, Prachi Kene, James Geckler, Deborah S. Gonzalez Esq.

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The Multicultural Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts et al., 2016) provide a framework for defining the attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, skills, and action that counselors must develop to effectively work with clients across identities and social and cultural contexts. In this paper, we apply the MSJCC to counselors’ practice with immigrant clients within a specific context: immigration court proceedings. Evidence suggests that counselors may be hesitant to practice within forensic settings in general, and that training and education enhances their self-efficacy, effectiveness, and willingness to practice within these settings. Drawing on the MSJCC, we contribute to counselors’ knowledge end …

Applying Supervision To Animal Assisted Therapy: Using The Integrative Development Model, Rachel W. Rachlinski, Kelli A. Mcfarland

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

A study conducted by Hartwig and Smelser (2018) reported 91.7% of clinicians being aware of animal assisted therapy (AAT) who agree it is a legitimate treatment model. However, 57% of respondents expressed interest in receiving AAT training. Although published standards and competencies published by ACA and IAHAIO indicate the requirement for clinical supervision when implementing AAT, research does not address supervision protocols for AAT. This manuscript suggests a protocol for supervising the implementation of AAT. The consequence of untrained supervisors is the potential harm to the well-being of the client as well as the clinician and the animal. As such, …

Culturally-Affirming Service-Learning For Counselors-In-Training: Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Training With Spanish-Speaking Families, Karen M. Roller, Szu-Yu Chen, Katrina Volante

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The Spanish-speaking community is the largest underserved language group in the United States. To advance social justice advocacy and multicultural humility for this language group, the field of counselor education needs to create pedagogical scaffolding for non-Spanish-speaking counselors-in-training to work with interpreters to support Spanish-speaking families, while also enhancing language-concordant training for Spanish-English bilingual counselors-in-training. We utilized a critical race research design to explore six counselors-in-training’s experience participating in service-learning through online facilitation of Child-Parent Relationship Therapy with Spanish-speaking families. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of qualitative data yielded four major themes: (a) collaboration, (b) improved awareness, (c) growth and strength, and …

Counseling Program Advisory Committees: A Structural Recommendation, Allison K. Arnekrans, Ellen Armbruster, Leslie Neyland-Brown, Robin Dufresne

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The 2024 CACREP accreditation standards now require counseling programs to assemble a program advisory committee to solicit feedback from stakeholders. While many programs have opted to establish advisory committees despite the lack of a requirement in the past, the inclusion of this new standard challenges programs to become more intentional and structured. The history and purpose of advisory committees will be reviewed, and a proposed structure is offered as a recommendation for programs.

Teaching Counselors To Work With Infants And Young Children: Why It Matters, Tricia Woodliff, Rachel Jacoby

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) is a culturally informed, relationally focused area of clinical expertise which addresses the social-emotional needs of very young children and their families. At this time, although counselors are often providers of this type of clinical work, very little training exists in counselor education programs. This brief explores the integration of this work into counselor education by describing a seamless integration of the IECMH concepts into already existing course work.

Literature Review Of Stiff Person Syndrome, Mustafa Ansari, Adam Davis, Donald Penney

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background: Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare, debilitating autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle rigidity, painful spasms, and gait disturbances. It is strongly associated with autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), leading to impaired GABAergic neurotransmission. SPS exists on a spectrum, with both classical and paraneoplastic variants, the latter often linked to malignancies such as breast cancer.

Methods: This review synthesizes current literature on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatment modalities of SPS. We examine emerging therapies, including immunomodulatory approaches and antibody-targeted interventions, to address the heterogeneity of disease progression and treatment response.

Results: SPS remains …

Advancing Sports-Related Concussion Management: Integrating Evidence-Based Protocols, Emerging Diagnostics, And Personalized Care, Anvitha Kaguturu, Colin Rhoads, Donald Penney

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background

Sports-related concussions (SRC) are a prevalent and complex public health issue, with 1.6-3.8 million cases annually in the United States. Increased awareness has led to higher rates of emergency and primary care consultations, yet many healthcare providers lack the resources or training to apply current evidence-based guidelines. The evolving understanding of concussion pathophysiology and long-term outcomes, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), highlights the need for updated management strategies.

Objectives

This study aims to review current approaches to SRC management, from initial diagnosis to return-to-play, while exploring advances in biomarkers, neuroimaging, and genetic testing that could improve the prediction and …

Photometric Display Content Compensation For Near-Eye Optical See-Through Displays, Haley Adams, Alexandra Boehm

Defensive Publications Series

Displaying content on OST devices is difficult because the digital content is overlaid on the real-world environment, which can have dynamic and non-uniform lighting and backgrounds. This can make the displayed content appear washed out, transparent, or invisible, especially in bright environments. This disclosure describes the use of a camera sensor on a head-mounted device to capture an image of the real-world background in the user's field of view and using the image to calculate the non-uniformity of the background. Photometric compensation is applied to the display content to correct the perceived non-uniformities. The described techniques improve the perceived uniformity …

Community-Based Toolkit For Parents And Their Children With Severe Mental Illness, Adam Thai, Jo Loomis, Alicia Kletter

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Many adult children with severe mental illness (SMI) reside with their aging parents, who not only provide financial and housing support but often serve as the caretakers and care coordinators. Circumstances can change in an instant for this population with the loss of their parents.

Local Problem: Persons with SMI in San Mateo County that have been reliant on their parents throughout their lives would suddenly be unhoused, vulnerable and without support in the community, which can adversely affect health outcomes.

Methods: A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student-led pilot online community-based toolkit was designed …

Framing The Future: A Community Health Analysis Of The Pee Dee Region, Stephen Borders, Jean Anton, Rian Fontaine, Donielle Phillips, Treyton Ringer, Jessica Robinson, Caitlin Thompkins

Public Health

This report presents a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of community health across South Carolina’s Pee Dee region, encompassing Florence, Darlington, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Marion, and Dillon Counties. Using tract-level data from CDC PLACES, the U.S. Census, and the National Provider Identifier registry, it assesses chronic health conditions, health behaviors, and social determinants of health. The analysis incorporates the South Carolina Healthy Communities Index (SCHCI) and a Suitability Analysis to identify the region’s most disadvantaged communities. The findings highlight persistent disparities, particularly in rural counties, where high rates of poverty, chronic disease, and unmet basic needs intersect with limited access to care. Despite …

Understanding The Effectiveness Of Teaching For Artistic Behavior (Tab) In Arts Education: A Case Study, Victoria Curry

Art 895 Research Papers

Art education longs to prove its efficiency and effectiveness in providing essential lifelong skills to young students in schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to show the benefits and variations of a different teaching method, Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), compared to other methods that many educators use. Data will be collected from teachers in art classrooms who use the method of TAB and incorporate the Studio Habits of Mind, through interview surveys and student artifacts. This study will impact arts educators by providing information regarding a different and perhaps beneficial way to deliver holistic and effective …

Trauma-Informed Care: A Therapeutic Communication - Executive Summary, Nicole Anne Leonce

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background Effective therapeutic communication is essential for building strong patient relationships, yet bias, stigma, and judgment can exacerbate trauma and widen health disparities. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) emphasizes respect, compassion, and empathy to mitigate these issues. Problem Although TIC is extensively studied in high-income regions such as the United States, Europe, and Australia, its application in developing countries remains limited. This gap impedes culturally sensitive healthcare practices that address unique social, cultural, and economic challenges, potentially deepening disparities. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted to assess current TIC training research among healthcare workers. The review aimed to underscore TIC's importance …

“Invisible Populations”: A Policy Brief Approach To Address Housing Data Needs In Vulnerable Communities, Kristin E. Moser

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Dependent adult children with severe mental illness (ASMI) living with aging parents have been an increasing population over decades due to lack of supportive housing and services in the community. ASMI living with aging parents is a high-risk group for housing instability and future homelessness. Local Problem: A limited amount of literature and data exist to determine the size and needs of the population of ASMI living with aging parents. A collaboration with University of San Francisco (USF) and non-profit, Solutions for Supportive Homes (S4SH) of San Mateo County (SMC) formed to disseminate information and quantify the “invisible …

Children And Chairs, Artifacts And Reality, Adam J. Macleod

Catholic University Law Review

Where do children come from? The source of childhood—either nature or political will—is a matter not merely of chronology but of authority. Whoever makes children gets to define childhood. Legal childhood is one type of legal personhood. Legal personhood matters because legal persons bear legal rights and duties. Rights and duties direct how we act toward each other. Thus, our ideas about how persons come to be, who counts as a person, and how persons are defined in law determine in large part how we act toward persons, both other persons and ourselves.

A legal person is an artifact of …

Trauma-Informed Family-Centered Care Training For Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses, Sonja A. Alli-Casella

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a high-stress environment that can cause or exacerbate emotional trauma for parents of critically ill infants. While NICU nurses are trained in neonatal care and basic family-centered principles, they often receive limited education on supporting adults in acute emotional distress, leaving them unprepared to manage dysregulated behaviors. Local Problem At a Level IV NICU in a Southern California pediatric hospital, nurses may underestimate their influence on parental stress levels due to a lack of formal training in supporting emotionally distressed adults. Methods A comprehensive literature review informed an evidence-based practice (EBP) initiative …

Meeting People Where They Are At: Accessible Approaches To Ceramic Design And The Artistic Process, Molly E. Thompson

Publications and Research

This paper explores accessibility for disabled people in ceramics, drawing upon my personal experiences as a disabled potter at Artistry Community Arts Center in Vermont. I begin with a discussion of how the process of creating pottery can be made more accessible, with a list of adaptable tools I have discovered and anecdotes about how pottery instructors can adapt their teaching styles to different needs. I then explore different examples of adaptive pottery made specifically for disabled people, including some of my own work. While recounting my own successes and failures in pottery production, I conclude that imperfection is the …

Implementing Standardized Intimate Partner Violence Screening In A Predominantly Latinx Community Health Center: Enhancing Detection Through Ehr Integration And Staff Education, Sophia Robledo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern that often goes unrecognized in clinical settings. Although national guidelines recommend routine screening, inconsistent practices and lack of staff training remain common issues. This quality improvement project was conducted in an adult outpatient clinic serving a predominantly Latinx population. To address the gap in IPV screening, an educational brochure and short slide presentation were developed for medical assistants. These tools focused on how to recognize signs of IPV, use trauma-informed language, and respond appropriately using the Hurt Insult Threat Scream (HITS) screening tool. The intervention aimed to increase awareness and …