One of the biggest problems the healthcare industry faces is dealing with underserved patient with chronic conditions. Often times these patients have no insurance and use the emergency room as their only means of medical care. By the time they use this service their condition usually has deteriorated to the point where it needs more attention, resulting in extensive treatments at a higher cost to the healthcare system.
To implement a system that addresses this issue and improve the quality of care and outcomes for these patients, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing received a three-year $1.4 million grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The aim of the program is to use all available resources at the School of Nursing, as well as the University to address this issue. Resources like Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) Clinic established by the School of Nursing at the university, along with M-POWER Ministries, an organization that provides the only free clinic in Jefferson County, Alabama will be utilized during this process.
“The increase in chronic illnesses and growing need for accessible, cost-effective health-care services, have the health-care industry in the United States moving toward providers from many disciplines working together with the common goal of building a safer, more patient-centered care delivery system. We know that teams provide better care when they work together, yet too frequently that doesn’t happen,” said Cynthia Selleck, D.S.N., R.N., associate dean for clinical affairs and partnerships in the UAB School of Nursing.
This model is designed to teach the benefits of team work by going over by how the patient will be treated at the beginning of the day, and going over the actions that were taken at the end of the day. Blind surveys are taken to see how the group did overall each day. A coach will go over the survey and provide feedback on what is working and what needs to be adjusted.
“If the patient is a diabetic with poor eating habits, the nutritionist may take the lead,” Selleck said. “If the patient is homeless, social work may lead the care team to help the patient get the services he or she needs to find a shelter or even a permanent home.”
HRSA provides help to more than 3,000 grantees with more than 100 health programs to ensure Americans have access to affordable healthcare. It part of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.
Edited by
Ashley Caputo
