Diet Quality As Assessed By The Healthy Eating Index-2020 Among Individuals Diagnosed With And Without Type 2 Diabetes, Minghao Zhou, Hairui Yu, Renee Underwood, Hongning Cai, Tung Sung Tseng, Susu Luo

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Dietary management is key to preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, few studies have examined differences in Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020) scores and components among individuals with and without diagnosed T2DM. This study aimed to assess gender differences in HEI-2020 scores and its 13 components by T2DM status. Methods: Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2011 to 2018, this cross-sectional study analyzed 19,464 adults. Diagnosed T2DM was identified via self-report or diabetes medication use. Diet quality was assessed using the HEI-2020, scored from 0 to 100, with a higher HEI score indicates …

Adolescent And Young Adult Cancer Survivorship: Supportive Care Needs, Resources, And Barriers, Allison Bryn Koplos

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors experience unique physical, psychosocial, developmental, and healthcare-related challenges that often persist beyond treatment completion. Although survivorship resources have expanded, gaps in supportive care needs persist. This scoping review examined the supportive care needs, survivorship resources, and barriers to accessing supportive care among AYA cancer survivors.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2026 was identified through searches in PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies examining supportive care needs, survivorship resources, or supportive care services …

A Conceptual Framework For Clinical Quality Oversight In Telehealth-Enabled Home-Based Urgent Care, Taylor Spencer, Jason P. Williams

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Home-based urgent care serving frail older adults should aspire to high-quality clinical care with optimal patient outcomes. However, monitoring and ensuring this quality can be challenging. For example, telemedicine and value-based frameworks introduce substantial complexity to clinical quality monitoring.

Purpose

We describe the conceptual framework for a multidimensional quality monitoring program within a national home-based urgent care model.

Framework Description

Medical care was delivered via a multi-state home-based primary, palliative, and urgent care practice serving medically complex Medicare Advantage (MA) populations. Our model of care incorporated distributed clinical and operational teams delivering 24/7 care via telephonic triage, video-enabled encounters, …

Bathrooms As A Patient Safety Blind Spot In Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review And Nursing Practice Framework, Carmelo Villani

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Emergency department (ED) bathrooms preserve privacy and dignity but interrupt direct observation. Risks described across clinical publications and professional guidance include falls, unrecognized deterioration, overdose, hazardous ingestion, infection, inaccessible environments, and unmet elimination needs. This review integrated those risks and translated them into a nursing practice framework.

Methods

For the structured narrative review, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus were searched on July 30, 2026, without date, language, age, or publication-type filters. Backward and forward citation chasing and a targeted search for professional documents supplemented database searching. Publications were categorized by ED relevance and synthesized thematically. Professional guidance was analyzed …

Implementation Of A Low-Cost Tobacco-Free Intervention In A Permanent Supportive Housing Program To Address Cancer Disparities Among People Who Have Experienced Homelessness, Ammar D. Siddiqi, Phoebe Wong, Cathy Crouch, Lorraine R. Reitzel

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Objectives: Permanent supportive housing residents who have experienced homelessness use tobacco products at elevated rates, contributing to higher cancer risk. Agencies that provide wraparound support services to this group are committed to rebuilding their stability by improving their health. Yet, their delivery of tobacco screening and cessation care is limited, as is information about their clients’ tobacco use behaviors. Here, we evaluated a low-cost intervention for an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship project conducted in a permanent supportive housing program with 650 adults who had experienced homelessness in Houston, Texas.

Materials and Methods: Between August 2024 and February 2025, client-facing staff members …

Murine Typhus In Georgia: Historical Context And A Probable Case Of Resurgence Where Previously-Thought Eradicated, Giovanni Mella-Velazquez, Christopher He, Bolanle Akinsola, Judson Miller

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a flea-borne illness historically endemic to the southeastern United States, with initial cases reported in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Following vector control efforts, incidence declined significantly, and the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable disease list in 1987. While recent cases have been reported in select regions, murine typhus has not been documented in Georgia for decades. We present a pediatric case in Atlanta that may represent the first reported instance in nearly 40 years, suggesting possible reemergence in the Southeast.

Methods: We conducted a case report analysis of a pediatric …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

The Other Visual Acuity, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Next Steps In Advancing Pediatric Care In Southern Nevada, The Lincy Institute

Lincy Institute Events

The Lincy Institute released new research evaluating the Southern Nevada pediatric care ecosystem. The report, "An Evaluation of Southern Nevada’s Pediatric Care Ecosystem," offers recommendations to develop a stronger and more coordinated pediatric care ecosystem before the stand-alone children’s hospital being developed by Intermountain Health opens in 2030 and identifies the components of an integrated statewide network to provide all of Nevada’s children with access to high-quality care. The event also featured panel discussions with pediatric care providers and policymakers.

Panel 1 - Pediatric Care Providers

Moderator — Tina Quigley, Project Facilitator, The Lincy Institute

Panelists — Lisa …

An Evaluation Of Southern Nevada’S Pediatric Care Ecosystem, David Damore, Tina Quigley, Nick Fiore

Policy Briefs and Reports

In 2024, The Lincy Institute and the Nevada Health and Bioscience Corporation released a report prepared by the consulting firm Tripp Umbach detailing the case for a stand-alone children’s hospital in Southern Nevada. Shortly thereafter, Intermountain Health announced it would build Nevada’s first such facility in Las Vegas, expected to open in 2030. To complement the hospital’s development, The Lincy Institute undertook an independent evaluation of the regional pediatric care landscape. The analysis draws on secondary data and discussions with advocates, health system administrators, practitioners, and providers. The report examines:

• Fiscal, resource, and workforce challenges underlying Nevada’s poor population-level pediatric …

Intimate Partner Violence And Child Wasting Across Countries: An Ecological Cross-Sectional Study, Wanri Lumbanraja, I Ketut Kasta Arya Wijaya, Ruben Cornelius Siagian

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue that can affect the well-being of women, their families, and the child-rearing environment. Meanwhile, wasting in under-five children reflects acute malnutrition linked to food insecurity, infectious diseases, poverty, and access to healthcare services. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the prevalence of IPV among women in the past 12 months and the prevalence of wasting in children under the age of five at the national level. This study addresses the gap in cross-national research, which remains limited in linking IPV as an indicator of social vulnerability with wasting as …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Inpatients’ Experiences, Priorities, And Health-Related Quality Of Life During High- Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy, Cintamani H. Ellsworth, Rebecca S. Bartlett

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is an oxygen delivery method with numerous benefits for severely ill patients. There is a paucity of research focused on the perspectives of patients receiving HFNC oxygen therapy. This study aimed to engage with patients to gain a clearer understanding of their experiences, priorities, and health-related quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed methods study was completed with 10 adult inpatients who had received HFNC oxygen therapy during their hospital admission. Semi-structured interviews and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Scale were used to identify participant perceptions of their physical and …

Strengthening Health System-Community Partnerships To Address Pediatric Social Needs: A Qualitative Study, Joy Friedman, Melissa A. Alderfer, Kelsey Higgins, Aaron Carpenter, Jennifer Sciolla, Sarah E. Wawrzynski

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IntroductionStructural and social conditions influence pediatric health outcomes. Successful implementation of social needs screening and referral programs depends on community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide resources that address health-related social needs (HRSN). We explored current practices and perspectives of health care workers and CBO representatives on improving health system-CBO partnerships.MethodsParticipants were purposively recruited from a variety of health care settings involved in HRSN screening and CBOs delivering resources in the community. Participants completed semi-structured interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to summarize data.ResultsTen key informants participated (six health care workers and four CBO representatives). Four themes were identified: 1) mismatches in …

Gait Characteristics In Older Adults Using The Protokinetics Zeno Walkway: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Katherine J. Hunzinger, Laura Skow, Andrea L. C. Schneider, Michael E. Griswold, Xiaoqian Zhu, Farwa Ali, Pamela L. Lutsey, Jennifer A. Schrack, Luigi Ferrucci, Eleanor M. Simonsick, B. Gwen Windham

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Gait speed is an important indicator of functional status and health outcomes in older adults. Electronic gait mats are common in research, but stopwatches are more feasible in clinical practice. This study compared agreement between single task (ST) gait speed measured by stopwatch and gait mat and described single and dual task (DT) gait performance measured by gait mat.

METHODS: A subset of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Visit 8 participants completed ST cognitive (serial subtractions), ST gait speed, and DT gait (gait with serial subtractions) on an electronic gait mat; ST gait speed was also assessed by …

Pola Rujukan Penyakit Saluran Pernapasan Di Fasilitas Kesehatan Tingkat Pertama: Tantangan Gatekeeper Program Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional Di Jakarta, Syarif Rahman Hasibuan, Melrose Holy Natasha, Fatih Jihadi Ramadan

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Program Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional yang diselenggarakan oleh Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) Kesehatan mewajibkan Fasilitas Kesehatan Tingkat Pertama (FKTP) untuk menyeleksi kasus yang memerlukan rujukan. Penyakit saluran pernapasan yang menjadi penyebab utama kunjungan ke FKTP memiliki pola rujukan yang masih belum banyak diteliti. Oleh karena itu, dilakukan penelitian untuk melihat pola rujukan penyakit saluran pernapasan di FKTP dan mengetahui faktor yang berasosiasi dengan keputusan rujukan. Penelitian potong lintang ini dilakukan terhadap 89.225 klaim FKTP di Jakarta pada periode 2017-2023, dengan kriteria inklusi semua kunjungan dengan diagnosis ICD-10 diseases of the respiratory system. Uji regresi logistik dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor …

Systematic Review Of Sports Safety Best Practice Implementation In Non-Scholastic Youth Sport Organizations, Katie Sniffen, Hayley J. Root, Richelle M. Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Non-scholastic youth sports organizations offer competitive and recreational activities to millions of children each year but lack centralized oversight for health and safety policy. Despite the benefits of sport participation, there are inherent risks, including cardiac-, concussion-, heat-, and musculoskeletal-related conditions. Therefore, it is important to understand how youth sports safety policies are implemented in non-scholastic youth sport organizations. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current literature on the implementation of youth sports safety policies in non-scholastic youth sport organizations in the United States. Methods: A computerized search of Cochrane, CINHAL, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus …

State-Level Implementation Of Health And Safety Policies In Mississippi Secondary Schools, Heather L. Shirley, Valerie J. Moody

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: State-level investigations of health and safety policy implementation in secondary school athletics highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring student-athlete safety that aligns with evidence-based best practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine current state-level implementation of health and safety policies in Mississippi secondary schools from the perspective of athletics/activities directors, athletic trainers, and other school administrators. Methods: In May 2025, a 26-item web-based questionnaire was distributed to 226 athletic directors and 114 athletic trainers across Mississippi secondary schools. The survey assessed participant demographics, access to healthcare resources, emergency action planning (EAP), required coaches’ health and safety training, …

Responding To Medetomidine In Philadelphia: Narrative Summary Of The Public Health Response To A New Psychoactive Substance, Tareva Warrick-Stone, Serge-Emile Simpson, Phil Durney, Dennis Goodstein, Catherine Abrams, Raymond Bobb, Kory London, Daniel Teixeira Da Silva

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Despite the emergence of medetomidine as the dominant adulterant in Philadelphia's illicit opioid supply, coordinated public health responses are limited or non-existent in the literature. Thus, we summarize a recent Summit in Philadelphia of outpatient and inpatient service providers who specialize in the care of persons who use drugs to discuss medetomidine response readiness and building ongoing community readiness for potential destabilizing drug supply changes.

PURPOSE: Describe a public health intervention that distributed information about practices across health care settings and mobilized key informants to identify and address barriers to treatment.

METHODS: Descriptive summary of the in-person Summit organized …

Breaking The Cycle: From Victimization To Offending Through The Lens Of Human Services, Colette R. Penalosa

Master of Arts in Human Services

The victim-offender overlap challenges the common view that victims and offenders are separately labeled by recognizing that both groups have experienced significant childhood trauma, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Current research implies these experiences can increase the risk of offending as they all influence cognitive and behavioral development while leaving criminal behavior undetermined. The purpose of this capstone is to analyze the relationship between childhood victimization and offending from a human service perspective; analyzing the pathways a victim takes on the road to offending. Research conducted will focus on exploring the victim-offender overlap, …

From “Fixer” To “Facilitator”: A Clinical Review Of Shared Medical Appointments As A Strategy For Workforce Sustainability, Barbara A. Slusher

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Clinician burnout remains a significant threat to workforce sustainability, particularly in resource-constrained settings managing complex chronic diseases. While shared medical appointments (SMAs) have demonstrated clear benefits in patient satisfaction and access, their impact on clinician well-being and professional fulfillment is less clearly defined. This review evaluates whether participation in SMAs improves clinician satisfaction and mitigates burnout by facilitating a conceptual transition from isolated “Fixer” to collaborative “Facilitator.”

A targeted literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar identified peer-reviewed publications examining shared medical appointments and clinician-centered outcomes, including burnout, clinician satisfaction, and workforce sustainability. …

Countering Hpv Vaccine Misinformation On Social Media: Practical Strategies For Healthcare Providers, David Baldwin

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a highly effective strategy for preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers; however, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to optimal vaccination rates. Social media has become a major source of health information while simultaneously amplifying misinformation that influences parental attitudes toward HPV vaccination. This narrative literature review examined the relationship between social media misinformation and HPV vaccine hesitancy and identified evidence-based strategies healthcare providers can use to improve vaccine confidence.

A literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified 31 articles published between 2016 and 2025, of which 19 met inclusion criteria. The literature demonstrates …

Implementation Readiness For National Cancer Survivorship Care Standards, Christiane J. El Khoury, Meera Gupta, Maryem Shirzadi, Heidi Dowst, Martha Mims, Maysa Abu-Khalaf, Hoda Badr

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Cancer survivorship care is a growing public health priority, yet delivery remains variable across health systems. The National Standards for Cancer Survivorship Care provide a framework for high-quality care, but little empirical evidence exists regarding health system readiness to implement these standards in routine practice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess implementation readiness for the National Standards for Cancer Survivorship Care and identify perceived barriers to implementation.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This real-time Delphi survey study was conducted from January to March 2025 at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Participants were multidisciplinary experts involved in cancer survivorship care delivery, care …

Software Tools And Simulation Exercises For Radiation Oncology Cyber-Attack Resiliency, Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy, James Lamb

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

This review summarizes the rationale for radiation oncology cyberattack simulation exercises, recent results from multi-institutional resiliency drills, and the landscape of software tools developed to help clinics resume radiotherapy treatments rapidly and safely during a cyberattack or other major clinical software outage. Simulation exercises using record-and-verify (R&V) downtime and File Mode treatment delivery have identified failure modes not apparent in theoretical planning alone, including risks related to treatment documentation, repeated fractions, patient setup, and missed safety checks. Available software tools emphasize insulated backup of DICOM-format planning data and clinical notes, treatment-state dashboards, File Mode treatments, redundant R&V installations, and human-readable …

Knowledge Of Parents About Thalassemia In Tabuk City: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sawsan Mohammed Alblewi, Amirah M. Alatawi, Ehab Mahmoud Hanafy, Faisal Mayudh Althobaiti, Abdulelah Hamad Al-Balawi, Faisal Mohammed Alamrani, Yazeed Mahmoud Ajwah, Omar Muslih Albalawi, Mohammed Majed Alquayr, Sultan Ibrahim Alhamdi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder and remains a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia. Parental knowledge is essential for effective prevention, screening, and early intervention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of thalassemia among parents in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia, and identify factors associated with knowledge levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 parents residing in Tabuk City between March and May 2025. Data were collected using a validated Arabic questionnaire distributed online. Knowledge was assessed using 21 items covering general thalassemia knowledge, thalassemia major, carrier status, and prevention. Knowledge levels …

The Efficacy Of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block As An Adjunct To Spinal Anesthesia For Cesarean Delivery: An Evidence Synthesis And Implementation Toolkit, Alyssa Hebert, Alex Potts, Gabriela Robertson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Postoperative pain hinders cesarean delivery recovery and overall patient experience. Although spinal anesthesia with intrathecal opioids remains the standard of practice, associated side effects and concerns regarding opioid exposure highlight the need for effective opioid-sparing strategies. Anesthesia providers play a critical role in advancing postoperative pain management through evidence-based protocol development, provider education, and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize maternal outcomes. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block provides somatic analgesia to the anterior abdominal wall by targeting the thoracolumbar nerves (T6–L1) and has increasingly been incorporated into multimodal postoperative pain management strategies for abdominal surgery. Nevertheless, a gap remains in obstetric …

Fall Risk In Community-Dwelling Adults: A Comparison Of English And Spanish-Speaking Individuals, Jesus D. Gomez

Dissertations, 2020-current

Falls are a leading cause of injury-related mortality among middle-aged and older adults. Although vestibular dysfunction, hearing loss, behavioral factors, and social determinants of health have been associated with increased fall risk, few studies have examined these relationships. Furthermore, limited research in audiology and vestibular science has investigated fall-risk vulnerability among Spanish-speaking individuals.

This study aimed to: (1) estimate the prevalence of fall risk among community-dwelling adults and compare prevalence between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking participants; (2) assess the prevalence of previously undiagnosed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and compare prevalence between language groups; and (3) develop predictive models of fall …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

Deaths Of Despair Among Cancer Survivors In Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022), Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rising deaths of despair (premature deaths from suicide, overdose, alcohol, and violence) in adults under age 65 persist across the United States, especially in Appalachia. People diagnosed with cancer may face elevated risks of such deaths due to pain, psychosocial distress, and financial hardship.

Purpose: Deaths of despair trends were compared among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions, stratified by sex and rurality.

Methods: Analyzing SEER-21 Incidence-Based Mortality data (2000–2022), deaths caused by suicide, cirrhosis of the liver, or accidents (includes overdose) were identified among adults aged 20–64 years. Annual mortality rates per 100,000 total population were …

Reducing Potentially Preventable Emergency Department Visits (Ppvs) Through A Telehealth Intervention In Children With Asthma Within A Managed Care Organization (Mco), Renee A. Roker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Abstract

Purpose:  The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce unnecessary ED utilizations among children with asthma enrolled in a Medicaid managed care health plan. The project aimed to improve access to care and enhance asthma self-management.

Background:  Asthma is one of the leading causes of Emergency Department (ED) utilization, among vulnerable populations. Members experience barriers to timely primary and specialist care, contributing to Potentially Preventable ED Visits (PPV) rates. This places managed care organizations (MCOs) at risk for financial penalties if not meeting the Texas PPV benchmark.

Methodology:  Guided by the Chronic Care Model, Lean Six Sigma …