Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Participant Model: Predictive Medical And Behavioral Factors Of Prostate Cancer Screening Attendees At Markey, Shana L. Steinbach

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Problem Statement

The Prostate Cancer Screening Program at the Markey Cancer Center co-sponsors prostate cancer screenings with the Prostate Cancer Education Council. All participation, including African-American attendance, has decreased 38% from years 2006 to 2008 and program managers are seeking insight to improve program participation by acquiring knowledge of behavioral and medical characteristics that may influence screening attendance. Because of the higher incidence of prostate cancer in African-American men (ACS, 2008), a specific program goal is also to increase screening attendance for this minority population.

Research Strategy

Questions that assess participant behavior, personal, and family medical history are analyzed to …

The Implementation Of The Kentucky Transitions: A Money Follows The Person Demonstration Grant Program, Amie Goodin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky Transitions is a Kentucky Medicaid program that is funded primarily by a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The purpose of this program is to transition individuals residing in long-term care facilities back into the community, where they will continue to receive health, social, and other benefits but do so in an approved residential setting. Individuals living in the community may experience higher quality of life and the increased ability to choose how and when they receive services, while Medicaid reaps the projected financial benefit of providing less-expensive community alternatives for care.

Though Kentucky Transitions operates …

Medication Therapy Management: Is It Worth Medicare’S Time?, Jennifer White

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Problem:

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service that a pharmacist can provide to any of their patients, but mostly to those who are either high risk patients for adverse events or those who are new to chronic medication therapy. As Medicare Part D has begun to cover MTM services, more and more pharmacists and other clinicians are becoming providers of MTM.

The intent of MTM is to decrease adverse events and healthcare costs to both the patient and the third party payer. In realizing the benefits of MTM, it is important to assess these outcomes to see if clinical, …

Physician Recruitment At Highlands Regional Medical Center: What Works?, Sarabeth Blankenship

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

There is a physician shortage in eastern Kentucky because older physicians are retiring, and younger physicians are choosing to practice in more urban, affluent areas. Eastern Kentucky is plagued with persistent poverty and lacks cultural amenities. These facts put together myths regarding rural practice create a shortage.

My research consisted of interviewing twenty physicians currently practicing at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. I created a survey instrument that asked questions of physicians regarding demographics characteristics, medical school attended, and what motivated them to practice at Highlands. I chose Highlands because I was able to get interviews scheduled with …

Employability After Substance Abuse Treatment In Kentucky: An Analysis Of The Kentucky Treatment Outcome Study, Steven Scrivner

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Public funding of substance abuse treatment (SAT) in Kentucky dates back to the 1950s when legislators sought to curb the problem of alcoholism through legislative acts. The definition of substance abuse expanded through the years to include other substances such as cocaine, marijuana and opiates.

Employment after SAT is a critically important outcome for policymakers to consider when allocating funds because it assists in social re-integration, helps to prevent relapse and promotes economic self-sufficiency. Because of this, employment is an important factor to consider when assessing the impact SAT has on its clients (participants).

The Kentucky Alcohol and Other Drug …