Community Health Commons^™

New Patient Onboarding, Jennifer Fournier, Sarah Flagg, Alletta Roberts Dzik, Lyndsay Stevens, Shannon Smith, Karen Waterhouse

Operations Transformation

Currently there are barriers to establish a new patient with a primary care. The workflow for patients who self-refer currently requires 10 steps and is performed by 7 care team members.

• 4 PSR at the front desk complete paper intake forms that are then manually entered into a spreadsheet by 3 other care team members.

The step in the workflow, to obtain the release of information for patient records to be requested and submit the form, is inconsistently followed internally and externally and results in very long process time of 40+ days. This step is frequently overlooked due to the …

Summary Of: Improving Vte Risk Assessment: Education And Prophylaxis In Rural Cancer Clinics, Heather M. Feldman, Eswar Tipirneni, Shamima Khan, Steven Ades, Allison Holm, Chris E. Holmes

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

•Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer and is preventable •Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and preventative treatment in high-risk patients who are at low risk of bleeding are recommended for outpatients with cancer initiating therapy

Summary Of: Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier Covid-19 Testing Clinics Co-Created With Community Based Organizations, David Ngandu, Gloria Sclar, Ambia Ahmed, Sumayo A Awale, Caroline Fernandes, Joshua Goldstein, Hina Hashmi, Shruti Joshi, Et Al.

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected people from structurally vulnerable communities. There was a need to improve COVID-19 testing in these communities to reduce viral spread and connect to treatment.

Study @ "Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier COVID-1" by David Ngandu, Gloria D Sclar et al.

Summary Of: Feasibility Of Continuous Home Monitoring Of Particulate Matter And Lung Function In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Who Are Exposed To Wood Smoke, S Wayne, K Cowan, L.M. Paulin, J Emery, D.A. Kaminsky

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Particulate matter (PM) contains microscopic solids or liquids that are so small they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Examples include smoke, dust, soot, and fumes.

There is increasing evidence that small particles have harmful effects on people’s breathing. Wood stoves are a source of indoor PM.

Is A Patient Navigation Program More Helpful Than A Referral Program For Reducing Depression And Improving Quality Of Life Among Women Living In Neighborhoods With Few Resources?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The research team compared two programs designed to help women with feelings of depression who live in neighborhoods with few resources. Both programs lasted four months.

Comparing Long-Term Outcomes Of Two Collaborative Care Approaches For People With Depression, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

People with depression usually get treatment in healthcare settings, such as clinics. In communities with few resources, people may also get help in community settings such as social services agencies or churches. Collaborative care brings together healthcare and community programs to help people with depression.

Treating Chronic Pain Using Approaches Adapted For Patients With Limited Reading Skills, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Patients with chronic pain may find some psychosocial interventions to be effective but for those with limited reading skills, it can be hard to understand and use these options.

Comparing Two Ways To Treat Serious Worry Among Older Adults From Underserved, Racial Or Ethnic Minority Communities, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Compared with other older adults, those with serious worry are more likely to have poor physical health, and often have depression, sleep problems, and trouble thinking clearly.

Comparing Universal Versus Targeted School Screenings For Depression Among Teens, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The US Preventive Services Task Force endorses universal adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) screening in primary care; however, most adolescents lack preventive health care, resulting in worsening disparities in MDD screening and treatment.

Helping Patients With Mental Illness Engage In Their Transitional Care, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Effective transitional care can keep patients from going back to the hospital.

Examining Health Outcomes For People Who Are Transgender, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The Study of Transition, Outcomes, and Gender was initiated to assess morbidity among transgender people in general and after gender-affirming treatments.

Examining Effects Of State Policies To Monitor Mental Health Medicines For Children In Foster Care, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Antipsychotics can have long-term risks but help treat conditions like schizophrenia.

Evaluating A Training Program For Rural Doctors And Nursing Home Staff On Safe Medicine Use For Patients With Dementia And Nursing Home Residents, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Program goal: Reduce unnecessary use of certain medications without worsening symptoms

Behavioral Health Integration And Outcomes That Matter To Patients: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Observational Study, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The study team hypothesized that patients would have a better experience over time in clinics that had greater degrees of behavioral health integration.

Does Plain Language Guided By The Ruaki Indicator Improve Study Participant Confidence In Their Informed Consent Decision?, Sabrina Kurtz-Rossi, Ifechi Augusta Okonkwo, Ye Chen, Noe Duenas, Timothy Bilodeau, Alice Rushforth, Andreas Klein

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Informed consent forms are hard to read and understand, but people need this information to make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in research.

Comparing Two Telehealth Approaches For Treating Psychiatric Disorders In Primary Care, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community clinics that provide primary care in rural and other underserved areas. FQHCs often don’t have enough mental health specialists to treat patients with complex mental health conditions.

Comparing Ways To Ask Patients About Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity In The Emergency Department (Ed), Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Sexual and gender minority patients report higher satisfaction and comfort with ED encounters when SO/GI is collected along with other demographic information via a nonverbal, written method during patient registration.

Pathways To Care Of Maine Youth With Psychosis, Elizabeth M. Mutina, Rebecca Jaynes, Dave Weiss, Elizabeth Bernier, Kristen A. Woodberry

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Study clinicians conducted semi-structured interviews to identify the timing and steps of each person’s Pathway to Care (PtC).

The Past, Present, And Future Of Distress Screening: Launching A Robust Distress Screening Program At A Large Outpatient Medical Oncology Practice Serving Rural/Underserved Communities, Kevin Stein, Trisha Warren-Vanhorn, Meredith Curtis, Amy Litterini, Amit Sanyal

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

After redesign, administration of the DT at initial chemotherapy teaching sessions and robust searchable databases integrated with EHR systems, allowing providers/researchers to create reports filtered by date ranges, encounter type, clinical site/facility, scores of ≥4, domain (physical, emotional, practical), and outcome (referral to specialist)

“I Know My Body Better Than Anyone Else” Perspectives Of People Who Inject Drugs On Antimicrobial Treatment Decision Making For Serious Infections, Amy Eckland, Michael Kohut Phd, Henry Stoddard, Debra Burris, Frank Chessa, Monica Sikka, Daniel Solomon, Colleen Kershaw, Ellen Eaton, Rebecca N. Hutchinson, Peter Friedmann, Thomas Stopka, Kathleen Fairfield, Kinna Thakarar

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Introduction:

• Few studies have examined the perspectives of patients with lived experience regarding outpatient treatment options for injection drug use (IDU) associated infections.

• We sought to better understand the perspectives of both community partners with lived experience who work with people who inject drugs (PWID) and hospitalized patients with IDU-associated infections on shared treatment decision making.

Studios: New Tools At Mainehealth To Improve Research And Engage Stakeholders, Carrie Sullivan, Paige Aherns, Emma Daybranch, Lisbeth Balligan, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Susan L. Santangelo

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

An introduction, description of benefits, and additional information about the new tools of the studios at MaineHealth.

Communicating About Covid-19: Strategies For Promoting Risk-Reducing Behaviors On Facebook, Liz Scharnetzki, Nikki Jarvais, Elizabeth Rintz, Leo Waterston, David Pied, Paul Han

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

Introduction- Controlling the COVID-19 pandemic requires effective public health communication strategies that can promote risk-reducing behaviors despite scientific uncertainties about their effectiveness. The current project developed and tested different theory-based communication strategies for generating public interest in COVID-19 risk-reducing behaviors. • Assessed the efficacy of two novel message frames – destigmatizing and uncertainty normalizing - relative to existing strategies

Treating Substance Use Disorders: Enhancing Attendance At The Weekly Inpatient Medication Assisted Treatment Group, Devon Gillis, Jayne Weisberg, Dena Whitesell, Amy Mcauliffe, Amy Sparks, Suneela Nayak, Ruth Hanselman, Stephen Tyzik

Operations Transformation

At a large academic tertiary medical center, an Integrated Medication Assisted Treatment (IMAT) program has been established for those medically stable inpatients with an addiction diagnosis. Over a four month period, this program had experienced a decline in attendance and a quality improvement project was initiated is to better understand the barriers to attendance and institute a process that would reverse the decline.

A goal was established to improve attendance by medically stable patients that have consented to participate to a minimum of 50%.

A root cause analysis outlined numerous causes for low attendance and several countermeasures were established to …