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Block Clerkship Projects

 
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  • Empowering Patients: Understanding Risks of Smoking and Strategies for Cessation by Angela Khadka

    Empowering Patients: Understanding Risks of Smoking and Strategies for Cessation

    Angela Khadka

    In the US, cigarette smoking continues to be a significant contributor to preventable diseases and fatalities each year. According to the New York State Department of Health, the smoking rate among adults in Clinton County (which includes Plattsburgh) was 19.9% in 2021. In the state of NY, over 22,000 people lose their lives due to smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. During my rotation at CVPH, I encountered many patients who were smokers and had chronic health conditions such as COPD and expressed a desire to quit smoking but faced challenges in doing so.

  • Screening for LUTS in Patients of Perimenopausal Age by Sarah Kohl

    Screening for LUTS in Patients of Perimenopausal Age

    Sarah Kohl

    Underscore the importance of standardized screening for lower urinary tract symptoms in patients in perimenopause and menopause. Describe standardized screening tool to identify LUTS in at risk patient population.

  • A Pamphlet on Housing and Food Insecurity Resources in Burlington by Zachary Kramer

    A Pamphlet on Housing and Food Insecurity Resources in Burlington

    Zachary Kramer

    A pamphlet consolidating the most used and current resources for housing and food insecurity in Burlington Vermont in the spring of 2024. I collected the list from social workers at my clinic, as well as several unhoused members of the Burlington community. I also corresponded with a provider at the Community Health Center of Burlington who said that information on safe sharps disposal would be useful, so I created instructions on how to safely dispose sharps on the street.

  • Expanding Awareness of TBI Resources in the North Country by Nicholas W. Krant

    Expanding Awareness of TBI Resources in the North Country

    Nicholas W. Krant

    Disability, emotional dysregulation and financial stress are only some of the issues that many patients who suffer TBI encounter. While resources are available to alleviate some of these burdens on patients who suffer TBI in New York's North Country, patients often struggle to find these resources. This project endeavors to create a resource for patients, family members and practitioners to find available resources.

  • Preconception Care Quick Facts by Aathmika Krishnan

    Preconception Care Quick Facts

    Aathmika Krishnan

    The number of unintended pregnancies in the United States is about 50%. In 2020 the US had a maternal mortality rate greater than three times the rate of other high-income countries. Given these trends, preconception care should be an integral part of primary care for people of reproductive age to allow for frequent monitoring and follow-up. An informational pamphlet about preconception care was developed and made available to community members considering pregnancy soon.

  • Optimization of Rhinosinusitis Care in a Resource-Limited Setting by Christopher Peter Kruglik and Michelle Dorwart

    Optimization of Rhinosinusitis Care in a Resource-Limited Setting

    Christopher Peter Kruglik and Michelle Dorwart

    This study evaluated strategies to optimize rhinosinusitis management in a resource-limited federally qualified health center in Burlington, Vermont. Key challenges identified included the discontinuation of Medicaid coverage for over-the-counter (OTC) medications critical to rhinosinusitis treatment and limited access to otolaryngology specialists, necessitating enhanced primary care provider (PCP) competency in outpatient management and patient navigation of socioeconomic barriers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a clinical pharmacist and a community member to assess care barriers and patient perspectives. Interventions comprised (1) an evidence-based clinical decision-support flowchart for PCPs to guide acute and chronic rhinosinusitis management, and (2) a comparative cost analysis tool for OTC therapies. While Costco offered the lowest medication prices, its membership requirement posed an accessibility barrier for low-income patients. The study underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between primary care and community pharmacies to mitigate cost-related disparities. Future efforts should prioritize partnerships with local pharmacies to subsidize OTC access and advocate for policy reforms to reinstate Medicaid coverage for essential therapies.

  • Dreaming Wisely: Improving Awareness of Age-Related Sleep Changes and Risks of Ambien by Angelina Kuzina

    Dreaming Wisely: Improving Awareness of Age-Related Sleep Changes and Risks of Ambien

    Angelina Kuzina

    This project involves an educational handout designed to inform patients 65+ about the normal changes in sleep associated with aging, while also highlighting the potential risks linked to long-term use of Ambien (zolpidem). A dot phrase was created in Epic for providers to attach the infographic to end of visit summaries. This initiative aims to empower older adults with knowledge about their sleep health and encourage discussions with their healthcare providers regarding medication use, with the goal of promoting safer medication use and improved quality of life.

  • Dissemination Plan to Inform Lamoille County’s Spanish-Speaking Population of New Bilingual Provider by Taylor E. Lamarre

    Dissemination Plan to Inform Lamoille County’s Spanish-Speaking Population of New Bilingual Provider

    Taylor E. Lamarre

  • Cholesterol Awareness in Colchester: the good, the bad, and the ugly by Maisie Laud

    Cholesterol Awareness in Colchester: the good, the bad, and the ugly

    Maisie Laud

    Awareness and education surrounding the health impacts of high cholesterol is crucial for young adults. Elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Education about cholesterol could empower young adults to engage in proactive health monitoring and management. Promoting awareness through targeted health education and awareness can lead to better outcomes, encouraging a generation to prioritize heart health. Ultimately, early intervention and lifestyle modifications can mitigate the potential consequences of high cholesterol, enhancing overall well-being and quality of life.

  • Increasing Advance Directive Completion by Briana M. Leger

    Increasing Advance Directive Completion

    Briana M. Leger

    Advance directive completion is a key component of primary care. Advance directive completion is associated with greater healthcare satisfaction and lack of completion may lead to unnecessary care. This project sought to increase awareness/completion of the advance directive by increasing patient education with a single-page, easy to read pamphlet.

  • Beating Diabetes: Somali Way of Cooking by Shani S. Legore

    Beating Diabetes: Somali Way of Cooking

    Shani S. Legore

    Diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, has increasingly become more prevalent in Black and Brown communities. More specifically, African descent groups, such as Somalis, who migrate to the U.S. face numerous health challenges, diabetes being one of the most common. Many research points to food insecurity, acculturation, and/or traditional eating behaviors as the main driving forces that lead to poorer health outcomes for Somalis; yet, very few have explored nutritional health interventions to curb or reverse diabetes. To address this gap, Somali cuisine was explored and culturally-centered and diabetes-friendly guidelines were provided.

  • Empowering Patients: Navigating the New COVID Vaccine in Fall by Joshua Le

    Empowering Patients: Navigating the New COVID Vaccine in Fall

    Joshua Le

  • Towards the elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Clinton County, New York by Michael H. Le

    Towards the elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Clinton County, New York

    Michael H. Le

    Chronic viral hepatitis is a major public health issue, affecting approximately 300 million persons globally. In Clinton County, New York, chronic viral hepatitis remains a major concern, with incidence rates for hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in the top quartile and hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) in the 3rd quartile for the state in 2022. This current study aimed to identify the trends in incidence and prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Clinton County, rates of HBV birth dose vaccination, and to reflect on the experiences in treatment and prevention of chronic viral hepatitis at a community health clinic in Plattsburgh, New York.

  • Being Physically Active in Addison County by Adam M. Lewis

    Being Physically Active in Addison County

    Adam M. Lewis

    This project looked to address the barriers to physically activities for patients in Addison County with obesity related chronic illness. A handout was produced that can be given to patients during conversations on lifestyle modification, providing functional movements that can be performed in the home.

  • Resources for Caregiver Fatigue by Ashley Lucero

    Resources for Caregiver Fatigue

    Ashley Lucero

    This project seeks identify the barriers that caregivers experience when seeking help for burnout, to conceptualize the burden that family caregiving has on both the country and Vermont, and to provide a simple handout that physicians can provide patients when they ask about resources.

  • Community Resources to Test Private Drinking Water for Potential Floodwater Contamination in Vermont by Jason Ludlow

    Community Resources to Test Private Drinking Water for Potential Floodwater Contamination in Vermont

    Jason Ludlow

    Community health research project about local resources available to patients to test their private well and spring water sources for potential contamination from floodwaters in Hinesburg, Vermont, and other municipalities throughout the state.

  • Hypertension Screening in the New Canaan Community by Jasmine Macias

    Hypertension Screening in the New Canaan Community

    Jasmine Macias

  • Addressing Covid Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions: New Canaan, CT by David Makaj and Alexandra Schieber

    Addressing Covid Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions: New Canaan, CT

    David Makaj and Alexandra Schieber

    This project aimed to address the frequent questions patients posed to healthcare staff regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Through interviews with New Canaan pharmacists and Nuvance Family Medicine clinic staff, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document was developed to provide accurate, up-to-date answers. The initiative emphasized interprofessional education and the need for a streamlined, easily accessible resource to empower staff in effectively educating patients, especially in an aging community with unique health concerns

  • Improving Vaccine Compliance in Children and Families in Primary Care by Mikaela Joy Mari

    Improving Vaccine Compliance in Children and Families in Primary Care

    Mikaela Joy Mari

    Vaccine Hesitancy is rising public health problem world-wide, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The most non-compliant individuals in the US are of pediatric-age. Primary care clinicians deal with increasing rates of families declining vaccinations for their children for non-medical reasons. Navigating vaccine hesitancy and understanding it’s underlying causes while bridging knowledge gaps in the community are important in achieving optimal local and nationwide health and safety.

  • Increasing Equitable Cardiovascular Disease Screening and Prevention for Women of Low Socioeconomic Status: You First by Isabel N. Martinez Daniel

    Increasing Equitable Cardiovascular Disease Screening and Prevention for Women of Low Socioeconomic Status: You First

    Isabel N. Martinez Daniel

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death in females of all ages and races. Given the potential reduction in risk of coronary events with modifiable behaviors, primary care physicians are in a unique position to be able to use shared decision making and patient education to help dramatically reduce the potential burden of cardiovascular disease. Consideration for social determinants of health, such SES, should not be forgotten when aiming to provide adequate and accessible healthcare. Furthermore, the incorporation of unique programs, such as You First, into primary care offices can increase equitable care for patients and aid in risk reduction for many diseases, including but not limited to CVD.

  • Physical Activity Promotion: Connecting Patients To Community Exercise Resources by Kassandra Mastras

    Physical Activity Promotion: Connecting Patients To Community Exercise Resources

    Kassandra Mastras

    Regular physical activity is an important lifestyle factor with evidence in preventing and slowing the progression of chronic disease. Treatment of chronic disease in Vermont is estimated to cost over $2 billion annually. However, 40% of adults and 75% of adolescents in Vermont do not get the recommended amount of physical activity, which is one of the leading chronic disease risk factors. This project aims to provide healthcare professionals at Milton Family Practice with the proper tools to assist their patients in starting and maintaining physical activity and to improve patients’ knowledge of what exercise resources are available in their local communities.

  • Raising Awareness of Suboxone’s Impact on Dental Health at Mountain Community Health by Ellen Mats

    Raising Awareness of Suboxone’s Impact on Dental Health at Mountain Community Health

    Ellen Mats

  • Interventions vs. Excessive Drinking by Wendy Memishian

    Interventions vs. Excessive Drinking

    Wendy Memishian

    Vermont has a higher rate of excessive alcohol consumption than the national average, and Chittenden County has the highest rate of excessive drinking in Vermont. The literature shows Brief Interventions done by PCPs may decrease risky alcohol consumption significantly. A module based on statistics, literature on Brief Interventions, and local provider interviews was developed and created in order to educate providers in Vermont and Chittenden county in particular on the data and how to do a Brief Intervention. This may make PCPs more knowledgeable about the issue and more comfortable with providing Brief Interventions on their own.

  • Educational Materials for Low-Barrier Mental Health Intervention in Essex, NY by Rachel Elizabeth Miles

    Educational Materials for Low-Barrier Mental Health Intervention in Essex, NY

    Rachel Elizabeth Miles

    Rachel E. Miles summer 2024 AHEC community engagement project undertaken as part of the family medicine clerkship. Sites were Elizabethtown Community Health Center and Smith House Health Center (Willsboro) of Essex County, New York. Preceptor was Dr. Mary Katharine Halloran. Project development and execution centered on development of low-barrier, low-cost, but high-yield mental health interventions and materials that can be distributed by primary care physicians and in community health centers for folks waiting to receive specialized care and/or those who may not have the resources or ability to seek it out.

  • Community Health Interventions to Reduce the Impact of Private Drinking Water Contaminants by Ian Minearo

    Community Health Interventions to Reduce the Impact of Private Drinking Water Contaminants

    Ian Minearo

    Contaminants, such as arsenic, E. Coli, and gross alpha, is found in soil, bedrock, and water and can seep into private wells and water sources. In addition, copper and lead in older homes can leech into the water in homes over time to due corrosion. In Vermont, 40% of households drink water from a private well while 40% of private drinking water systems tested for contaminants exceeded the drinking water limits. Public water is managed by the towns and state, but private water is the responsibility of the homeowner who may not know if and when they should test their water. Currently, providers are not asking or educating their patients about their home testing nor have the tools to do so. This project hopes to determine who has private well water, if they are testing, and if providers should start screening their patients.

 

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