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Maintaining Muscle Mass on GLP-1s
Sarah Krumholz
Many patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss or diabetes management experience a reduction in both fat and muscle mass. While weight loss can have significant metabolic benefits, the accompanying loss of muscle mass can lead to decreased strength, functional impairment, and long-term health risks. This project aims to address this gap by providing accessible, evidence-based resources to help patients maintain muscle mass through targeted nutrition and resistance exercise strategies.
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Understanding Antibiotic Stewardship in the Outpatient Setting in Burlington, VT
Anna Landis
There are more than 230 million antibiotic prescriptions sent annually to pharmacies in the United States, and more than 28% of outpatient prescriptions are not necessary. This leads to antibiotic resistance and increased healthcare cost. To mitigate this risk, antibiotic stewardship aims to correct provider and patient behavior to ensure that the right drug, at the right dose, for the right duration and the right indication are prescribed. This project focused on community perspectives on this issue as well as provided resources to a local community health center for patients and providers on information regarding common infections and when antibiotics should be utilized.
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Colorectal Cancer Screening Options Made Simple
Joon Young Lee
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death from cancer and one of the most common cause of cancers in men and women in the U.S. and worldwide. The USPSTF now recommends screening for CRC beginning at age 45. Studies have proven that increasing screening rates can significantly prevent new cases and reduce the number of deaths from CRC. Screening programs and outreach interventions have been successful in increasing patient participation rates and subsequently in reducing CRC incidence and mortality. This project aims to collect and utilize public recommendations and experiences to create a standardized communication in the electronic medical record in the form of a dot phrase as a method of intervention that provides express education on the available CRC screening tests to patients as a means of improving screening rate.
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Generating Language for an Electronic Medical Record Patient Deliverable on Lifestyle Approaches to Migraine Prevention
Jonah Levine
This project aimed to generate language on evidence based lifestyle modifications for migraine prophylaxis to be integrated into the Cerner EMR system at Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency such that it is made available for clinicians to deliver to migraine patients during an office visit.
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Patient Education of Non-operative Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis
Christopher Lin
Arthritis is a group of diseases that causes joint pain and requires long-term management. 22.5 million adults in the U.S meet criteria for osteoarthritis. 92% of these patients see their primary care physician for OA. Yet, only 6-25% receive care from a specialist. As a result, there is significant patient confusion regarding diagnosis, prognosis, management, and prevention, as well as a lack of understanding of treatment options. Patients have consistently indicated the desire for more information delivered clearly from multiple sources of health information. More effective communication strategies and visual aids are required
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Promoting Muscle Health During GLP-1 Therapy Through Nutrition
Erin Manogaran
The widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss and metabolic disease management has raised concerns about unintended loss of lean muscle mass, often resulting from reduced overall caloric and protein intake. This decline in muscle mass may contribute to physical weakness, increased risk of falls, and greater susceptibility to other chronic conditions. To address this concern, a patient-centered weekly sample meal plan was developed in collaboration with the clinic dietitian, offering a starting point for individuals to set nutrition goals that support muscle preservation during GLP-1 therapy.
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Minimizing Unnecessary Absences from Rural Early Childcare
Elizabeth Medve
Access to rural childcare can be a significant challenge, and has a significant impact on early childhood development, parent and family employment, and the local economy. Previous studies have demonstrated childcare centers often unnecessarily exclude children from care for mild illnesses, many parents fear losing pay or their job when they stay home with a sick child. In this project, a pamphlet summarizing current guidelines for illness exclusion from childcare was developed for parents and staff at a rural childcare center, in conjunction with an educational session with the childcare director and staff and provision of full current guidelines.
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Increasing Education Surrounding Proper use of Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Patients
Abigail M. Mercier
This project intends to offer providers an easy way (via a smart phrase in Epic) to increase education in their menopausal patients about vaginal estrogen cream.
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Diabetes Prevention in High-Risk Populations
Petergaye Murray
The American Diabetes Association estimated that the cost of diabetes care in the US in 2022 was $412.9 billion. With numerous patients being diagnosed with prediabetes, it was observed that these patients were underinformed about the necessary changes in diet and exercise needed to delay or prevent diabetes. Two interviews were conducted with professionals who work with diabetes, a pharmacist who providers nutrition counseling, and a physician who oversees the clinical management of diabetes. With their insights and information from nationally recognized resources such as the CDC and the American Diabetes Association, a mini-guide in preventing diabetes was created to disseminate to high-risk patients (patients with pre-diabetes) in clinical settings.
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Anxiety Screening in a Rural Primary Care Setting
Erzsie Nagy
Anxiety disorders are one of the most commonly occurring mental health condition. It is recommended to screen for anxiety in adults under the age of 65, but there is insufficient research to make this recommendation for older adults. Caledonia County in northeastern Vermont is a rural area with a large proportion of older adults, and this unique population could benefit from anxiety screening.
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Addressing Resource Gaps for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
Christopher Pham
Autistic patients of all ages often experience greater difficulty accessing healthcare and worse health outcomes compared to neurotypical peers. Additionally, patients who are older when they are diagnosed as autistic (e.g. later adolescence, adulthood) frequently report increased comorbid medical problems and problems with mental and emotional health. Healthcare providers often feel they have inadequate knowledge and skills to confidently treat autistic patients, and are also often unaware of what resources are available to support patients. This project describes efforts to better equip primary care providers in Hardwick, VT with resources to support autistic patients, and discusses anticipated outcomes of similar interventions.
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GLP-1 Receptor Agonists & Dietary Recommendations...What We Know So Far
Olivia Richardson
GLP-1 receptor agonists have been increasingly prescribed to both diabetic patients as well as overweight/obese patients. However, there is ambiguity on dietary recommendations that should be made to these patients to avoid nutritional deficiencies/muscle wasting. This project includes a literature view on what current recommendations are for these patients.
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Lead Testing Patient Education to Improve Primary Prevention of Lead Poisoning
Sung Bin Roh
Lead poisoning is an expensive problem for the state of Vermont. Primary prevention of lead poisoning in Vermont could generate at least $40 million. Information about lead testing is inaccessible and the accuracy of lead tests are dependent on proper use and surface material. Because lead tests are designed to be highly sensitive, false positives can occur. Understanding which tests are accurate for different materials and what can interfere with tests can help prevent false positives. Creating and disseminating education materials about lead testing can aid primary prevention by identifying lead hazards.
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Improving Obstructive Sleep Apnea Support in Rural Primary Care: Enhancing Patient Resources and Provider Tools
John L. Rustad
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent but underdiagnosed condition, particularly in rural populations with limited access to specialist care. This project aims to enhance OSA identification and management in a rural Vermont clinic by implementing an integrated patient education and screening initiative. Key interventions include a patient information pamphlet, a standardized screening tool, and a referral pathway to streamline diagnosis and treatment. Provider feedback highlighted the benefits of these resources in improving patient awareness, screening accuracy, and referral efficiency.
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Gender Affirming Care within Primary Care in Northern New York
Julie Scholes
Gender affirming care is an integral part of healthcare, but is often difficult to identify or access. Primary care providers have the skillset to provide gender affirming care but identify education and resources as barriers to start prescribing gender affirming hormone therapy. This project aimed to assess existing access to gender affirming care and identify areas for improvement and support to enhance accessibility to care in northern New York
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Day 1 of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Patient-Centered Educational Tool
Isaac E. Sellinger
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents an overwhelming diagnosis for many patients, with a significant burden of education, lifestyle modification, and medical management required from day one. In Clinton County, NY, diabetes prevalence remains high, with disproportionately elevated rates of diabetes-related mortality and preventable hospitalizations compared to state averages. To address these gaps, a two-page, accessible, and actionable educational handout and accompanying clinical workflow tools for patients newly diagnosed with T2DM was developed. These materials were designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing after-visit summary (AVS) process at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Family Medicine Center. The project emphasizes small, achievable lifestyle changes, locally available resources, and goal-setting strategies to enhance patient engagement and build motivational inertia. Early implementation has shown that these tools are simple, well-received by providers, and practical for clinical integration. Future directions include assessment of long-term impact on patient outcomes, expanded patient feedback integration, and adaptation for use in other chronic disease management pathways.
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New food for thought: Promoting updated concussion management guidelines
Ian A. Strohbehn
Many in the general public are only aware of outdated concussion management strategies which emphasize strict rest. These strategies may delay healing and increase incidence of post-concussion syndrome. Current guidelines recommend early return to light physical activity which can shorten time to recovery.
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Supporting School Behavioral Health in the New Mainer Population
Eunice Suberu
This project addresses the growing youth mental health crisis in Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, with a focus on refugee and immigrant adolescents. The intervention involved creating a culturally informed emotional regulation guide for middle and high school students. The guide was shaped through conversations with healthcare providers, youth, and community organizations, and aims to equip students with practical strategies to manage emotions and seek support. This work highlights the importance of trauma-informed, culturally competent approaches to behavioral health in school and community settings.
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Weight Management and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Practical Approach for Primary Care Patients
Adam B. Thompson
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability, with obesity being the most significant modifiable risk factor for its progression. Weight loss has been shown to substantially reduce knee joint load, yet knee pain often limits physical activity, creating a challenging cycle. In Connecticut, 21.3% of adults have arthritis, and obesity rates have risen to 30%. The high cost of knee OA management, including knee replacements, underscores the need for preventive strategies to reduce financial and healthcare burdens. A one-page pamphlet was developed to provide evidence-based guidance on weight management and knee OA, incorporating recommendations from peer-reviewed literature and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The pamphlet was distributed at a primary care clinic in New Canaan, Connecticut, offering information on beneficial exercises and local community resources for weight management. The pamphlet was made readily available to patients and well received by clinic staff. While direct patient feedback was limited, the intervention ensured that educational materials were accessible to those seeking guidance on weight management in the setting of knee OA pain. Future interventions should incorporate structured patient feedback, extend the distribution period, and expand availability to additional clinics and community centers.
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Providing Vaccine Education to Immigrant and Refugee Populations in Bridgeport, CT
Lauren Tien
The population of refugees, immigrants, and migrants (RIM) across the United States is under vaccinated. Under vaccination puts the individual and community at risk for preventable communicable diseases.
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Guiding Steps for Accessing Mental Health Care Resources in Danbury CT
Alex Tran
My work aims to offer easy to access resources for accessing mental health care in Danbury and Newtown, CT. It is aimed at newcomers to therapy, but is especially targeted as elderly patients who find navigating the system unfamiliar. By providing a rack card with basic information and scannable QR code with detailed steps, we hope to make this process less intimidating for patients in the area. Information was gathered from local therapists in the region and patient interview on what steps that found challenging or vague.
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Gun Safety in Lewiston Maine FMR Clinic
Ryan Trus
Community project to help improve safe gun storage in Lewiston Maine
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Addressing Polypharmacy in Older Adults in Primary Care
Genevieve T. Wakeman
Polypharmacy is a common problem affecting older adults, leading to increased medication burden, risk of falls and negative health outcomes, hospitalizations, and mortality. This community project attempts to improve medication management in older adults without increasing provider burden. A brief checklist was created to be included in provider note templates, prompting a consult with a clinical pharmacist if the patient meets criteria. Results have yet to be studied.
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