Illinois Medicine

Patient-Centered Innovations To the Community's Health College, UI Health receive combined $4 million to address complex medical conditions Student volunteers help run annual health fair at high school near campus B lood pressure, bodymass index, heart and lung sounds, blood glucose and cholesterol, vision and other tests and checks were made available to members of the community near University of Illinois at Chicago during the annual student-run health fair on March 9. The Chicago Medical Student Council chooses a different underserved community each year. CMSC hosted the 2013 Health Fair at Morgan Park High School along with the Student National Medical Association, which supports underrepresented minority medical students and underserved communities. Thirty student volunteers, four residents and one attending physician staffed this year's fair, which was coordinated by recent graduate Peggy Newman, MD '13, a former CMSC secretary, who started an internal medicine residency at the College of Medicine this summer. Students took the health screenings, while physicians reviewed the results and discussed management of any abnormal results, as well as giving general thoughts on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Social service organizations were on hand to answer common health questions like how to navigate over-thecounter medications and how to register for public aid. All services were free, and no insurance was required. Prior health fairs, like the one in August 2012 in the Pilsen neighborhood, focused on back-to-school physicals and included voter registration booths. That was coordinated alongside LaRAMA/LSMA, a Latino medical school organization. Project directors for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awards will be Denise M. Hynes, professor of public health at the College of Medicine, and Jerry Krishnan, associate vice president of health affairs at UI Health. p h o t o : j o s h u a c l a rk T he College of Medicine and the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System have been awarded $2 million each to develop innovative new ways to treat patients with complex medical conditions. The awards from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute are designed to lower hospital admissions, identify and treat complications sooner, and encourage and assist patients in taking a more active role in their care. Denise M. Hynes, PhD, MPH, RN, professor of public health in medicine and VA research career scientist, is leading a project to deliver efficient, coordinated care to patients with end-stage renal disease. Such patients often suffer from other chronic diseases, and they face a high risk for emergency room visits and hospitalizations. "Patients with end-stage renal disease may require dialysis up to three times a week to replace their lost kidney function," said Hynes. "Patients typically require appointments with a primary care physician as well as specialists to treat other medical issues." After an initial evaluation, patients see a team consisting of a kidney doctor, a primary care physician, an advanced practice nurse, a dialysis nurse, a dietitian, a pharmacist, a social worker and a health promoter. Hynes says integrated and coordinated delivery of care will help reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits. Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD, associate vice president of health affairs at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, will lead a project called Patient Navigator to Reduce Readmissions. Designed to help patients stick to their treatment plan after they leave the hospital, this project will target patients admitted for heart failure, COPD, pneumonia or sickle cell disease. They will be matched with local community laypeople trained to help them navigate their treatment plan and resolve issues that may interfere with their care. "The patient 'navigators' are at the core of our program, and are there to serve as a liaison between the patient and the hospital and help the patient progress through their treatment plan once they are discharged," Krishnan says. Because the navigators are community people—not doctors in white coats—patients may feel more comfortable asking for help, said Elizabeth Calhoun, PhD, professor of health policy and administration, and a collaborator with Krishnan. "Sometimes patients don't come to their appointments because they can't get a ride, or they're embarrassed that they can't remember how to take their medication," she said. illinois medicine | 7

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