-
Preventing Falls in the Elderly
Rebecca Robbins
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans, leading to 27,000 deaths every year and almost 3 million emergency room visits. Many view falls as just part of getting older; however fall risk can be significantly diminished through appropriate screening, education and community programs. Through literature review and talking to members of the local community, I learned about how fall risk is assessed along with what education and programs are provided for those at increased risk of falling. This project sought to educate patients about simple steps that can be made to decrease their fall risk and to educate providers about screening tools available to assess fall risk and how to work with patients who have an increased risk of falling.
-
Indirect Approach to Intimate Partner Violence
Jasmine Y. Robinson
Discussing Intimate Partner Violence can be difficult, and has many barriers. An indirect approach to speaking with patients about domestic violence, whether is is sexual, physical, emotional or financial can be achieve with patient's trust in a physician if they withhold judgement.
-
Identification of Barriers to Organ Donation: A Primary Care Interventional Approach
Brittany L. Rocque MSc
Organ transplantation provides a potentially life saving intervention for patient with end-organ failure as well as substantial cost-benefit with relation to Medicare expenditure. Despite the advantages of transplantation, deceased organ donors are in short supply and many patients die or lose quality years while awaiting transplantation. Registered organ donor rates are relatively low in our opt-in system being 52% nationwide and only 44% in Vermont, which is below the >50% per state goal. Non-organ donor patients were given and informational brochure and surveyed regarding their attitudes and beliefs toward organ donation.
-
Assessing Transportation Hurtles in Lamoille County, VT
Brian J. Rosen
Rural areas are often characterized by low population densities, and large distances between available services and the population they serve. Lack of transportation in these areas makes access to services even more challenging. Access to primary healthcare was listed as the number one concern for patients in 2015 Copley Hospital Service Area (Lamoille County) and lack of suitable transportation was a major reason for this lack of access. The primary purpose of this project was to assess the medical transportation options for patients without appropriate transportation in Lamoille county, and to produce a flyer educating the patients about their options. The second goal was to educate the providers at Morrisville Family Health Care about the transportation struggles their patients face.
-
Primary Care to the Rescue, Again! Autopsy and the Death Certificate
Emily E. Ryan
An pre and post testing, an educational module, a presentation, and a dot phrase were developed to improve providers' knowledge of the hospital autopsy and the correct completion of death certificates.
-
Recognizing Depression in Elderly Patients
Maia Sakradse
Recognizing depression in elderly patients can be challenging. Lack of awareness of mental health issues amongst elderly patients, ideas that depression is a normal part of aging, and confusing symptoms of depression as symptoms of other conditions are just a few of the challenges. Providing patient information about the signs and symptoms of depression in older patients may help encourage patient to talk to their doctors about depression.
-
Concussion
Kasra Sarabakhsh
Concussions are very common, especially among young athletes and students. Most patients are encouraged to rest and avoid activities that are physically and cognitively demanding. However, there is not much education regarding alcohol use after a concussion and its detrimental effects on brain recovery.
-
"Beaver Fever" - Giardiasis in Vermont
Anthony Sassi
“Beaver Fever,” or Giardiasis, is caused by a single-celled parasite called Giardia intestinalis. According to the most recent reports by the CDC, Vermont consistently has the highest rate of Giardia infection in the nation. Since the risk of infection for Vermonters is so high, it is important for both patients and providers to understand the transmission, symptoms, and treatment of this very common disease.
-
Increasing Access to Dental Services in Windham County, VT
Adam Michael Schlauch
Adults and children in Windham County, VT have limited access to dental care. A goal of the Community Health Team at Grace Cottage Hospital is to increase access to dental care through the proposal of a mobile dental clinic.
-
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Eric Schmidt
The USPSTF gives Colorectal Cancer screening a Grade A recommendation, beginning at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years. Screening colonoscopies are proven to show dramatic decreased incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. This project evaluates the percentage of patients at Stowe Family Practice and Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley who are meeting these guidelines. Using chart reviews and patient interviews, the project seeks ways to increase screening rates through provider-patient shared decision making tools and educational materials for the office.
-
Vermont Food Insecurity: Implementing screening tools and interventional assistance at Thomas Chittenden Health Center
Quinn Self
Hunger Free Vermont estimates that over 11% of Vermonters experience Food insecurity defined as a lack or access to adequate nutritious food due to lack of money or other resources. Food insecurity has been linked with numerous health problems including obesity, depression, poor school performance, heart disease, anemia and increased number of hospitalizations. Despite the adverse health outcomes associated with food insecurity, primary care providers don't usually screen for it. There are short validate tools to screen with high sensitivity and specificity for food insecurity. The goal of this project was to generate a screening poster for waiting rooms and an information pamphlet for patients and providers that highlights local resources that can help address food insecurity.
-
Narrative Medicine: Improving Patient Care and Shifting Office Culture
Julia Shatten and Yazen Qumsiyed
Assessing the effects of narrative medicine on the doctor patient relationship, office culture and the management of symptoms in patients with chronic pain and depression in a primary care setting.
-
Headphones and Adolescents: Hearing Loss Prevention
Taylor Sommer
Headphone use of adolescents is on the rise due to increased availability of personal listening devices. Hearing loss has also increased in adolescents. This project aims at preventing noise-induced hearing loss by educating adolescents on proper use of headphones.
-
Promotion of Skin Protection in Children in Waterbury, VT
Kelsey M. Sullivan
Background: Vermont has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the nation. Between 2001 and 2005, Vermont had the highest incidence of melanoma of any state, 63% higher than the national average. It is also estimated that if children under 18 regularly used sunscreen of at least SPF 15, the incidence of squamous and basal cell carcinomas would decrease by 78%. Modeling by the EPA and CDC suggests that recommended sun protection measures could prevent 11,000 cases of skin cancer, 50 deaths, and $30 million in cancer treatment costs nationwide. Intervention: To create an information sheet on skin protection and skin cancer prevention to be included in well-child visits at the Waterbury Health Center. Method: I integrated state-specific data, national data, and epidemiologic facts about the risks of sun exposure and other risks for skin cancer with recommendations made by the UVM Dermatology residents who I interviewed, in order to create a brief yet fairly comprehensive fact sheet on skin protection in children.
-
Improving Breastfeeding in New American Communities of Burlington, VT
Amelia V. Tajik
Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), provides healthcare services including social work and financial assistance to these New American communities. The flagship site, Riverside, provides a specialized OB clinic where many of these community women obtain prenatal and postnatal care. Continuing to understand the barriers these communities and families face in providing the recommended healthcare to their newborns allows mission-driven CHCB to most effectively communicate, support, and effectively direct resources to these barriers. Barriers and challenges to breastfeeding were identified during this rotation through confidential interactions with patients, shared with the staff and providers at CHCB.
-
Management of Prenatal Depression
Soraiya Thura
Depression affects many women during and after pregnancy. As many as 1 in 5 women will experience a depressive episode during their pregnancy, however, studies have shown that less than 20% of these women will discuss their symptoms with their healthcare provider and receive care. Barriers to treatment include poor screening, lack of understanding about safe treatment, and stigma against mental illness in pregnant women. This project aimed to address this issue locally, by presenting to a group of family medicine providers in Vermont on the topic of prenatal depression screening and treatment. The presentation was received well and developed further discussion on research looking into maternal depression at this site.
-
A Patient's Perspective on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Curran Uppaluri
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have been increasing in incidence and prevalence in the United States. With a large annual health care cost, an association with a significantly reduced quality of life, and an aging population, LUTS is increasingly becoming more of a burden on the health care system. The American Urological Association created a symptom index in 1992 that assesses for the severity of seven LUTS associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. This project seeks to address the question of which symptoms from the index score are more common; whether certain symptoms are more concerning from a patient’s perspective.
-
Tackling Healthy Food Insecurity in Vermont’s Windham County
Marc J. Vecchio
The goal of this community project was to help bring healthy, nutritious food to underserved community members in Windham County, Vermont. It was designed to be an extension of the Vermont Foodbank's VeggieVanGo program, supplying fresh produce to those who cannot afford it. It was also designed to educate local businesses regarding available tax reductions for those who donate food to families in need.
-
Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant/Refugee Populations
Lisa H. Wang
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common type of violence affecting women. Globally, Central Africa and South Asia have some of the highest rates of IPV. In Vermont, the majority of refugees are from these regions. Individual, interpersonal, and especially cultural values play critical roles in the definition/appraisal and decision to seek help in these women. This study examines ways to mitigate challenges that healthcare professionals have in identifying women who need help and barriers preventing these women from seeking help.
-
E-Cigarette Prevention Among Vermont Youth
Tyler W. Wark
E-cigarettes are increasingly used by U.S. adolescents, a trend that is particularly troublesome from a public health perspective because they have been linked to conventional tobacco smoking. In Vermont, recent data from 2015 reports that 30% of high school students ever used electronic vapor products. At present the scientific, regulatory, and lay communities all have a dearth of quality information regarding e-cigarettes and their potential adverse health effects. This school-based intervention aims to promote awareness and educate at-risk youth in the Milton School District about e-cigarettes through an educational fact sheet and health blog post.
-
Approaching Refusal of Colorectal Cancer Screening
Greg Whitcher
This project aimed to investigate the reasons why patients refuse colonoscopy, the screening rates for colonoscopy, alternatives to colonoscopy and methods primary care physicians can use to encourage patients to have colorectal cancer screening.
-
Expanding Access to Dental Care for Patients on Suboxone
Nathan E. White
Those using Suboxone® for medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence are at increased risk for poor oral health for a variety of reasons including lifestyle factors, effects of opioids and the direct impact of Suboxone® on the oral environment. Medication assisted addiction treatment programs do not regularly address these concerns. This project aims to educate patients about the importance of oral health, remind providers to screen for dental issues and make referrals for dental care and to promote oral health as an important aspect of well being in this vulnerable population
-
Nutrition and Exercise Resources for Clinton County
Paige M. Wood
The obesity epidemic is a nation wide problem that has increased prevalence in Clinton County, NY when compared to the surrounding areas. Obesity leads to many co-morbid health conditions and is associated with a large increase in health care spending costs. This brochure tackles the limited resources, such as limited number of fitness centers, lack of nutrition education and an overall lower socioeconomic status, that is present in the Clinton County area. This brochure offers help in these areas through free phone applications which cover nutrition education, healthy shopping guidance, at home exercise routines, motivation, habit trackers and mindfulness exercises.
-
Promoting Awareness of Resources Available at Syringe Exchanges in Windsor County, VT
Erica Worswick
Heroin addiction is a problem nationwide, and is especially prevalent in the state of Vermont. Individuals who inject heroin are at risk of infection with HIV or hepatitis C, and of death by heroin overdose. Currently, two syringe exchange sites operate in Windsor County in Vermont, located in White River Junction, VT, and Springfield, VT. These programs distribute clean syringes to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, sharps containers to promote safe disposal of dirty needles, and naloxone to prevent deaths from opioid overdose. They also provide testing for HIV and hepatitis C and information regarding local resources for treatment and recovery from substance abuse. This project aimed to increase awareness of the resources available at syringe exchange sites in Windsor County by means of a pamphlet distributed to clients of these programs.
-
Caring for Caregivers: Addressing Caregiver Burden in Newtown, Connecticut
Zachary Wunrow
In 2015, thirty-four million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult 50 years or older. Due to an aging population and an increased number of individuals living with chronic disease, the niche that caregivers occupy in healthcare administration will only become more invaluable in the coming years. However, studies demonstrate that one-third of caregivers report a high burden of care, and these stresses are accompanied by documented health risks including higher rates of depression, insomnia, and all-cause mortality. This project aims to increase awareness about caregiver burden via a pamphlet for caregivers listing local resources that may alleviate burden, and a presentation to healthcare providers at Newtown Primary Care.
Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.