Health Policy Commons^™

Under The Care Of The City Of Fremont: Employees Embrace A Healthier Lifestyle Through Worksite Wellness, Kelly Wright

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) if the City of Fremont has effectively implemented wellness activities that promote health and wellness for employees; and (2) what strategies can the City of Fremont use to encourage and increase employee participation in workplace sponsored health and wellness program activities.

An Experience Of Practitioners Navigating The Role Of Patient/Caregiver, Susan M. Shaw, Rain Lamdin

Patient Experience Journal

This journey involved one of us having (repeat) intraspinal surgery in a country far from home but of a similar culture and with the same first language. The carer travelled across the world to be present during the hospital stay. We kept a journal during our admission, and following discharge realised there were significant differences between how we had documented our experience and the record presented in the clinical notes. The particular examples we present illustrate the relationships, rules and issues that we navigated. We share our experience in the form of moments from our journal, some of them alongside …

Reconnecting The Mind And Body: A Pilot Study Of Developing Compassion For Persistent Pain, Sarah L. Parry Dr, Zoey Malpus Dr

Patient Experience Journal

As an alternative to the more typical cognitive behavioural approach to pain management, a novel pain management group based on the principles of compassionate mind training was developed for a particular sub-group of patients. Participants were patients of a community pain clinic, who were invited to participate in this alternative approach to pain management. The eight-week Compassion in Pain Groups included psychoeducation around persistent pain, the underlying principles of compassionate mind training, practical exercises such as diaphragmatic breathing, followed by a series of compassionate imagery exercises and group discussions. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken to gain further insights …

Experiences Of Communication Barriers Between Physicians And Immigrant Patients: A Systematic Review And Thematic Synthesis, Salim Ahmed, Sonya Lee, Nusrat Shommu, Nahid Rumana, Tanvir Turin

Patient Experience Journal

Frequent immigration of peoples from outside often challenges various systems of any country; healthcare sector is the most confronted one. One of the most prominent reasons for this confrontation is communication gap between physicians and immigrant patients. In this systematic narrative review, we studied existing literature on physician-immigrant patient communication. We systematically searched the repositories of literature and followed some criteria to select literature. We selected 32 literatures for information extraction. Three themes emerged from the synthesis: Physicians’ viewpoint about communication barrier with their immigrant patients, Immigrant patients’ viewpoint about the communication barrier with their physicians, and Interpreter as a …

Patient Experiences Of Cancer Care: Scoping Review, Future Directions, And Introduction Of A New Data Resource: Surveillance Epidemiology And End Results-Consumer Assessment Of Healthcare Providers And Systems (Seer-Cahps), Michelle A. Mollica, Lisa M. Lines, Michael T. Halpern, Edgardo Ramirez, Nicola Schussler, Matthew Urato, Ashley Wilder Smith, Erin E. Kent

Patient Experience Journal

The shift towards providing high value cancer care has placed increasing importance on patient experiences. This scoping review summarizes patient experience literature, highlights research gaps, and provides future research directions. We then introduce a new resource that links the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey and longitudinal medical claims data. We conducted a scoping review to identify relevant research within the Medicare CAHPS domain that examine factors associated with patient-reported experiences with their cancer care. Gaps indicate a need …

“Quiet At Night”: Reduced Overnight Vital Sign Monitoring Linked To Both Safety And Improvements In Patients’ Perception Of Hospital Sleep Quality, Kevin Stiver, Nandini Sharma, Kayla Geller, Lisa Smith, Julie Stephens, Emile Daoud, Susan Moffatt-Bruce, Ernest Mazzaferri

Patient Experience Journal

Obtaining middle of the night vital signs is disruptive to sleep and not founded on evidence-based medicine. We sought to investigate the perception of quality of sleep and overall satisfaction during a hospital stay between an intervention group where overnight night vital signs were not obtained and a standard of care group where overnight vital signs were obtained every four hours. We also monitored for adverse events in the intervention and standard group. Low-risk observational stay patients with a planned cardiac procedure were eligible for this study. After consent, patients were randomized to the intervention or standard group. Participants were …

Engaging Rural Residents In Patient-Centered Health Care Research, Michelle Levy, Cheryl Holmes, Amy Mendenhall, Whitney Grube

Patient Experience Journal

Patient engagement is increasingly recognized as a critical component in improving health care. Yet, there remains a gap in our understanding of the intricacies of rural patient engagement in health-related research. This article describes the process of engaging rural patients, caregivers and broader stakeholders to actively participate in an exploratory effort to understand rural perspectives around the patient-centered medical home model. Highlights of the project’s engagement activities demonstrate how giving voice to rural residents can have a significant impact. Lessons learned point to the importance of six factors for successful engagement of rural residents as partners in health care research: …

Evaluating Variables Of Patient Experience And The Correlation With Design, Dyutima Jha, Amy Keller Frye, Jennifer Schlimgen

Patient Experience Journal

The objective of this paper was to understand the variables of patient experience by analyzing recent and relevant evidence and to identify design solutions within the hospital environment that positively impact those variables. A systematic review of literature published from 2008-present was conducted to identify variables that contribute to patient experience benefits. Identified variables were documented and categorized into a design, organizational, and outcome variable matrix. Interviews were conducted with professionals from healthcare institutions, architecture firms and organizations committed to improving the patient experience. Data from healthcare facilities, with high patient experience scores, was also examined to derive effective design …

Patient Experience: The Field And Future, Geoffrey A. Silvera, Courtney N. Haun Mph, Jason A. Wolf Phd

Patient Experience Journal

In an effort to understand the progress and evolution of the field, a self-examination study has been administered to assess contributions to the core knowledge base in the field and to assess the degree to which articles published in Patient Experience Journal (PXJ) addressed the core elements of patient experience outlined in the definition of patient experience as offered by The Beryl Institute. The purpose of this examination is to understand PXJ’s position as a central voice for patient experience scholarship, practice, and knowledge exchange. The findings suggest that the operating definition of the field continues to be suitable and …

Learning And Leading In The Experience Age, Jane Cummings

Patient Experience Journal

A focus on experiences of care helps health systems realize the very transformations they look to achieve. This is because patient experience allows patients, families and carers to define value, enabling healthcare organizations to focus on what matters to them and not simply what is the matter with them. This is what we mean by an ‘experience age’, one in which clear connections are made between the things patients value and the clinical outcomes we look to achieve: where links are drawn between experience, clinical effectiveness, safety and cost in order to provide the very best care for all patients. …

Patient Experience: A Return To Purpose, Jason A. Wolf Phd

Patient Experience Journal

As an opening reflection to Volume 4 of Patient Experience Journal (PXJ), this editorial reviews the progress of the journal and the implications seen both in the evolving healthcare marketplace globally as well as reviews the data on the developing field of patient experience. It reinforces the need for an integrated view of experience as supported by data in the most recent State of Patient Experience research – one encompassing quality, safety, service, cost and population health implications and one driven on an engine of both patient and family engagement and employee/staff engagement. The article offers that healthcare is as …

High School Student Concussion Recovery Program: Teacher Involvement In Student Academic Transitions To Classroom And To Sports, Brittany Diego

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

Many symptoms of concussions can greatly interfere with the cognitive abilities and skills students use in school. Although students may have similar symptoms, they experience concussions differently. Students returning to the classroom from a concussion often have different needs and abilities.

Research shows that a formal, individualized protocol to treat suspected concussions, both academically and physically, is vital to the successful recovery of each student. Much research is available on concussions for professional athletes, specifically related to recovery and returning to their sport. However, there is little research about high school students regarding concussions. Concussion recovery programs for high school …

No Puffs: Penguins Go Smoke-Free, Monica Sciamanna

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

In partnership with the Department of Student Life, this project examines campus smoking behaviors among students, faculty, and staff. It will gather information regarding awareness and perceptions of current smoking policies at Dominican. Data may be used in the development of a new campus smoking policy.

Geographic Variation Within The Military Health System, Linda G. Kimsey, Samuel Olaiya, Chad Smith, Andrew Hoburg, Stuart R. Lipsitz, Tracey Koehlmoos, Louis L. Nguyen, Joel S. Weissman

Health Policy & Management: Faculty Publications (2006-2018)

Background: This study seeks to quantify variation in healthcare utilization and per capita costs using system-defined geographic regions based on enrollee residence within the Military Health System (MHS).

Methods: Data for fiscal years 2007 – 2010 were obtained from the Military Health System under a data sharing agreement with the Defense Health Agency (DHA). DHA manages all aspects of the Department of Defense Military Health System, including TRICARE. Adjusted rates were calculated for per capita costs and for two procedures with high interest to the MHS- back surgery and Cesarean sections for TRICARE Prime and Plus enrollees. Coefficients of variation …

A Historical Look At New Mexico’S Public Health, Laura J. Hall

Posters and Presentations

The poster A Historical Look at New Mexico’s Public Health, presented by Laura J. Hall, MFA, at the New Mexico Public Health Association Annual Meeting, April 5-6, 2017, examined the evolution of public health in New Mexico from statehood in 1912 to the mid-20th century. The poster highlighted key public health milestones, such as the establishment of the New Mexico Public Health Association in 1917, efforts to improve sanitation and healthcare access, and significant reductions in communicable diseases and mortality rates. It emphasized how public health initiatives contributed to longer, healthier lives for New Mexicans.

Projected Financial Losses Experienced By Community Health Centers Under A Scenario Of Major Cuts In Key Sources Of Federal Funding: 2018-2022, Avi Dor, Eric Luo, Ali Moghtaderi, Anne Rossier Markus

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

Congress is currently considering options to significantly reduce federal funding for the Medicaid expansion and the Marketplace subsidies implemented under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Separately, the Health Centers Fund, which currently accounts for 70% of all federal health center grant funding, is set to expire in September 2017. These potential changes in federal funding could have a dramatic impact on health centers and the communities they serve. The purpose of this brief is to simulate the potential combined impact of these major changes in federal funding that will directly affect community health centers. Secondarily, this brief also assesses the …

A Bottom-Up Approach To Effectively Implementing A Good Samaritan Policy At Bryant University, Jessica Fleet

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

The rising numbers of substance consumption on college campuses are becoming a public concern for higher educational institutions across the United States. The thesis studies the relationship between state laws and private higher education institution laws in regards to substance abuse. Examining state laws and private universities Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan laws were used to determine what would effectively replace Bryant University’s current Substance Abuse Policy. The current policy lacks an educational element along with stressing the word of mouth ideology that students are protected when in need of drug or alcohol assistance in a medical situation. This is …

A Review Of 57 Zone: A Social Media Network For Tb Consultation And Communication In Kunming, China, India Medaris

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Yunnan, a predominantly agricultural province in southwest China, is a province with a high rate of both tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), with nearly 25,000 cases of pulmonary TB reported each year. Former TB/MDR TB patients in Yunnan, with the support of Family Health International 360 NGO (FHI) are trying to combat this problem. They have created a social media network for TB consultation and communication, 57 Zone, where TB patients can talk about their medication, adverse drug effects, and nutrition and psychosocial concerns. The goal of this study was the look at what aspects of the …

Rural Opioid Prevention And Treatment Strategies: The Experience In Four States [Policy Brief], John A. Gale Ms, Anush Yousefian Hansen Ms,Ma, Martha Elbaum Williamson Mpa

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Little is known about what states with large rural populations are doing to combat opioid use disorders (OUD) in rural communities. This qualitative study identified rural challenges to the provision of OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services and explored promising strategies to tackle the opioid crisis in rural communities.

Rural Opioid Prevention And Treatment Strategies: The Experience In Four States [Working Paper], John A. Gale Ms, Anush Hansen Ms,Ma, Martha Elbaum Williamson Mpa

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Although opioid use rates are comparable in rural and urban counties, rural opioid users tend to be younger, unmarried, have lower incomes, and are more likely to lack health insurance, all vulnerabilities that may negatively impact their ability to seek treatment and recover. Additionally, the rural health care system is characterized by numerous resource, workforce, access, and geographic challenges that complicate the delivery of specialized care for OUDs in rural communities. The nature and scope of the opioid crisis vary across rural communities and require multifaceted, community-based strategies to address the problem. Based on interviews with key stakeholders in Indiana, …

Reduction Of Unnecessary Scanning To Lower Costs While Preserving The Integrity Of The Legal Health Record, Toni Wood

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The purpose of the paper is to explain the efforts taken at Rocky Mountain Clinic to reduce scanning of unnecessary documents into their Electronic Health Record (EHR). An EHR is a digital version of a patient’s medical paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. (United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 2017) The use of an EHR requires paper documents to be scanned into the system so they are available electronically within the patient’s EHR.

Research was completed to determine …

The Disappearance Of Nyoman And Ketut, Laura Michelle Garvie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

What Are The Financial Implications Of Public Quality Disclosure? Evidence From New York City’S Restaurant Food Safety Grading Policy, Rachel Meltzer, Michah W. Rothbart, Amy Ellen Schwartz, Thad Calabrese, Diana Silver, Tod Mijanovich, Meryle Weinstein

Center for Policy Research

Grading schemes are an increasingly common method of quality disclosure for public services. Restaurant grading makes information about food safety practices more readily available and may reduce the prevalence of foodborne illnesses. However, it may also have meaningful financial repercussions. Using fine-grained administrative data that tracks food safety compliance and sales activity for the universe of graded restaurants in New York City and its bordering counties, we assess the aggregate financial effects from restaurant grading. Results indicate that the grading policy, after an initial period of adjustment, improves restaurants’ food safety compliance and reduces fines. While the average effect on …

Economic Burden Of Tuberculosis Among Bangladeshi Population And Economic Evaluation Of The Current Approaches Of Tuberculosis Control In Bangladesh, Mohammad Rifat Haider

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is major scourge for human history and causes profound economic burden. Bangladesh is a high burden TB country with 12% of its annual death is caused and 362 thousand people are infected by TB. DS-TB is the most prominent type of TB found in Bangladesh and a 6 month drug regimen (2 month intensive and 4 month continuation phase) is followed. But the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) differ in delivery through community health workers (CHW) and community members (CM). Bangladesh has also experienced surge in the number of MDR-TB cases with a 29% of MDR-TB cases …

Water, Sanitation And Hygiene In Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Katelyn Bergl

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

Quality Of Water In Relation To Diarrheal Disease Incidence In Obunga, Tianna Herman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Kenyan cities are experiencing a serious dilemma in dealing with the large influx of people from rural parts of the country to the cities. Most people come to the city in pursuit of better opportunities and jobs. Rapid urban growth with little planning and preparation by the national and county governments has led to the development of informal settlements. These informal settlements are characterized by poor environmental conditions that predispose their residents for poor health conditions. Because of their illegal status, most residents of informal settlements in Kenya do not receive government services such as water, drainage, sewerage, and rubbish …

Identificando Los Limites Del Acceso A La Salud Reproductiva: Un Análisis Sobre Las Experiencias Vividas Por Las Mujeres Guaraníes Con Los Servicios De La Salud Reproductiva En La Villa 31 De Buenos Aires, Amelia Mitchell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In order to serve the ‘public’, public health services must be accessible to everyone, without discrimination based on race, gender, social class, or geographic location, among other facets of identity. Reproductive health services, in particular, are a key service that must be adequately supplied in order to guarantee the health and wellbeing of a population. Reproductive healthcare not only allows individuals to decide if and when they wish to have a child, it also contributes to cancer prevention and the detrimental effects of sexually transmitted diseases. This investigation examines the experiences of Guaraní women that live within “Villa 31” of …

Fruit And Vegetable Bucks: Adams County Grocery Store Snap Incentive Program, Meredith A. Cox, Amy B. Dailey, Kim Davidson, Kathy Gaskin, Etta Saltos, Audrey Hess, Megan Shreve, Cherry Arvin, Elizabeth Weller

Student Publications

Veggie Bucks provides a 50% discount on all fresh fruits and vegetables sold through Kennie’s Market produce department at the point of sale for the 5 highest cost items. The incentive period ran January - April, 2017. Intended outcomes include an increase in the number of fresh fruits and vegetables purchased by SNAP recipients at Kennie’s Market locations in Biglerville and Gettysburg by 10% in January-April 2017 compared to baseline figures obtained in 2016, and to familiarize SNAP recipients with fresh fruits and vegetables and to provide information about the ACFMA markets’ Double Dollars program. SNAP recipients were invited to …

Analysis Of Worcester's Youth Employment Sector, Laurie Ross Phd, Ramon Borges-Mendez Phd, Alex Rothfelder

Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise

Overall, the employment rate for Worcester youth has improved since 2000; yet mirroring the nation, Worcester continues to have a smaller share of youth 16-24 employed. This situation is intensified for youth of color and young people facing barriers such as homelessness, exiting foster care, juvenile justice involvement, and limited English proficiency. Mass, Inc. estimates that in Worcester there are 3400 disconnected youth—756 are between 16-19 and 2644 are between 20-24. From the youth employment program inventory, we learned that the city’s programs offer many opportunities for “first job” experiences; has some exemplary programs that integrate youth development and workforce …

Are Our Policy Makers On Board? What Policy Makers Think Of The Social Determinants, Health Disparities, And Health In All Policies, M. Lelinneth B. Novilla, Michael C. Goates, Spencer Calder, Tabetha Ellis, Kraymer Eppich, Laura A. Galvao, Noyra Melissa Quintana, David Mateos

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: We impact our health by “how we manage our affairs in society.”¹ The unequal distribution of power, money, and resources creates a collective social milieu with disparities in health between and within countries. Tackling health inequities require addressing the health implications of the “toxic combination of poor social policies and bad politics.”¹ But how do U.S. policy makers view the social determinants of health?

OBJECTIVE: Determine U.S. policy makers’ awareness for the social determinants of health, health inequities, and health in all policies; identify the social determinants of health perceived as legislative priorities; list factors identified/perceived …