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Early Socialization in Rural Communities
Regan Staudenraus
Early childhood socialization has been connected to positive outcomes for children's behavioral, physical and mental health as they reach school age. Particularly, social-emotional development for pre-kindergarten children is positively impacted by opportunities for peer interactions, including daycares, community events, and parent child programming. The North Country region of New York is considered the most rural region in the state, where children and families are burdened by cost, accessibility, and transportation barriers when seeking peer learning opportunities. This study addresses accessibility and cost determinants through primary care intervention in at risk children.
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Promoting Mindfulness Among Medical Professionals and Patients
Isabella R. Sutherland
Residents and physicians often feel overworked and overwhelmed, neglecting to take time for themselves to practice mindfulness and self-care. Strategies to promote mindfulness among healthcare providers have the potential to improve measures of personal well-being as well as patient outcomes.
From a patient-facing perspective, there is recognition of the utility of mindfulness practices in combatting the impact of chronic disease. However, visits are short, and it’s easy to simply not have time to discuss mindfulness - there is a need for easy-to-access educational resources to provide patients with to review on their own time.
I created a learning module for the residents at my family medicine placement to address both of these issues - to educate on the evidence-based benefits of mindfulness meditation, and to provide them with resources to promote their own mindfulness and the mindfulness of their patients.
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A Resource Guide for Patients to Access Local Dietitian Services
Alyssa Tenney
Patients at the Community Health Center lost access to an on-site registered dietitian (RD). Patients who are interested in dietitian services will need to be directed to other RDs in the community. Many patients and providers do not know all the community resources that are available and what local RDs specialize. This project created a hand-out for patients with a list of resources available in the community, contact information, insurance coverage details and what different sites specialize in.
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Barriers For Patients With Limited English Proficiency On The Usage Of The Electronic Patient Portal
Sofia Toro Alvarez
99.7% of Vermont’s new incoming residents over the last 10 years were Hispanic, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Native Hawaiian, however, despite Vermont’s growing diversity, inequities in all fields, including healthcare, continue to affect minorities the most. At Colchester Family Medicine, 6% of patients have limited English proficiency (LEP) and over 10 languages are spoken by this patient population. While interpretation services are often readily available during these patient’s visits, communication before or after their visit is challenging. The electronic patient portal is one of the main resources for patients to not only stay in touch with their provider but also to access their own medical information. However, many LEP patients face barriers preventing them from making use of this resource. As part of this project, a 7-question survey was distributed to LEP patients assessing usage, accessibility, challenges and assistance for setup regarding MyChart. 5 out of 5 LEP patients marked “no” to using MyChart themselves. Language, technological expertise, and lack of guidance on how to activate it were all barriers identified by these patients on the use of the electronic patient portal. A step-by-step guide was designed in both Spanish and French to address the initial language barrier preventing patients from activating their MyChart account. Providing better patient education, expanding interpretation services, and increasing research on LEP patient’s use of the electronic patient portal may help ensure a more equitable and accessible healthcare for all.
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Bridging Language Barriers In Clinical Screening: Leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to Generate Bilingual Screening Surveys for Patients with Limited English Proficiency (PLEP)
Tyler VanDyk
This study addresses the critical need for accessible clinical screening in communities with a high incidence of Patients with Limited English Proficiency (PLEP). Recognizing the limitations of existing interpreter services and the scarcity of validated translations for standard clinical surveys like PHQ-9 and GAD-7, we developed a novel approach leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs). Our method utilizes GPT-4 to create bilingual versions of these surveys, which are then formatted into printable PDFs via a Python script and LuaLaTeX compiler. The resulting surveys, validated for translation accuracy and cultural competency, are made accessible through a Google repository. Preliminary results demonstrate that GPT-4 can consistently produce high-quality, culturally sensitive translations in various languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, and Somali. This innovative approach not only improves the accessibility of clinical screening tools but also enhances the efficiency of medical practice, especially in settings with diverse linguistic needs. Future directions include professional validation of the bilingual surveys and expansion of the repository to encompass a wider range of languages and forms. This study highlights the potential of LLMs in bridging language barriers in healthcare, offering a scalable solution to improve healthcare outcomes for PLEP.
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Trauma Informed Physical Exams
Kathleen Waeldner
Studies show that more than sixty percent of adults have some history of trauma. Many traumatic events occur in childhood, contributing to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs have been linked to chronic health conditions, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol use disorder, obesity, and COPD. Further, those with a history of trauma/ACEs utilize healthcare services at higher rates than those without. Primary care professionals are the first line of treatment for these chronic health conditions that so often have etiologies at least partially rooted in trauma. The physical examination is an important component of care in which primary care providers can build trust and safety with their patients.
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Promoting spine health for adolescent athletes
Taylor R. Walker
Based on interviews with local stakeholders in public health and literature review, developed an informational brochure for high school athletes containing prevention and management strategies and resources for low back pain. The aim of this project is to help young athletes stay healthy and live well as they age by promoting spine health.
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Artificial Intelligence for the Primary Care Physician
Trevor Watkins
Artificial Intelligence is an emerging technology set to radically transform primary care. Most clinicians have little available information on the artificial intelligence technologies that will impact their practice in the future and present. To solve this problem, a concise PDF was crafted and shared with clinicians addressing AI basics and currently available AI tools.
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Improving Nutrition Education and Access to Healthy Food for Low-Income Mainers
Jessica Wyn
Many people in Androscoggin county are not able to consistently achieve a diet with the recommended food variety for improving health. Adequate nutrition for improving health outcomes requires access to healthy food at affordable prices, health literacy regarding diet and nutrition concepts, and the skills and access to equipment required to prepare and store food. A lack of resources in any one of these areas can limit a person’s ability to engage in a healthy diet, which increases their risk of developing preventable non-communicable diseases later in life.
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Addressing Problem Gambling in the Advent of Online Sports Betting in Vermont
Sarah Yang
With the legalization of online sports betting in Vermont as of January 11, 2024, residents now have access to commercial sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics. As online gambling becomes increasingly rapid, accessible, and immersive, the associated risks for harm to consumers are rising. Problem gambling, a behavior with potential to significantly disrupt one’s well-being, career, and relationships, is recognized as a mental health disorder affecting over 11,600 Vermonters (2.2% of the adult population). The social and economic costs of problem gambling in the United States total approximately $14 billion annually, spanning healthcare, criminal justice expenses, job loss, and bankruptcy. This project introduces a brochure designed to provide primary care patients and physicians with essential, nonjudgmental information on recognizing and managing problem gambling. The brochure aims to raise awareness, educate, and offer support resources to at-risk individuals and their families. Through strategic distribution in primary care settings, this resource seeks to address an urgent public health issue by equipping patients and practitioners with tools to mitigate the impact of problem gambling.
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Culturally Competent Resources Focused on Wellbeing & Mental Health in Vermont's Immigrant Communities
Meron Yishak
Recognizing the unique stressors and barriers immigrants often face, this list compiles a range of culturally-sensitive online & in-person resources here in Vermont. It includes community organizations, hotlines, online platforms, and services working to address the diverse needs of immigrant populations. By empowering immigrants with knowledge of available resources, this guide strives to promote well-being within immigrant communities.
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Brochures & QR codes as an E-Cigarette Informational Tool
Yasamin E. Zamanian
Can a brochure and website with resources about e-cigarettes make a difference in the way that parents speak to their children about e-cigarette use?
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Promoting Cardiovascular Health Through Health Food
George Zhang and Vyha Do
Poor diet is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease.
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Patient Satisfaction and Staff Protection
Cole T. Zweber
Front desk, reception, and rooming staff at Middlebury Family Health have experienced an increased degree of patient agitation and frustration since 2020 and the COVID pandemic (this trend of increased violence in healthcare settings is seen nationally as well). This is a source of physical and emotional strain on staff and can contribute to decreased quality of care for all patients. Former projects have addressed the need for increased training and support for staff facing these tense interactions. This project aims to describe the underlying factors and sources of patient agitation, namely access to care for urgent issues, in order to better address their concerns and minimize the burden on staff.
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Patient Pamphlet for Basic Lab Values
Robert A. Adamian
As a result of lab results being immediately available to patients online, many patients experience unnecessary anxiety when viewing their results before speaking with their physician. Misleading lab values and increased patient concerns lead to more time spent by physicians answering messages on EPIC, which adds to the burden of public health costs. To combat this, a double-sided pamphlet was made with quick high yield facts about lab data that patients can use for information in the time between seeing their results and communicating with their doctor.
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Increasing Patient Education on Proper Antibiotic Stewardship
Arif S. Ahsan
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health issue in the United States. Coinciding with this, patients often inappropriately self-treat infections using antibiotics. Locally, this causes complications in treating patients in an outpatient setting, and nationally, this causes an increased economic burden on the United States healthcare system. A handout was developed for distribution at pharmacies in order to better educate patients on proper antibiotic stewardship, based on information that providers believed to be most important for patients to know.
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Caring for Patients At Risk of Suicide in Vermont
Lindsay R. Aldrich
Suicide is the 9th leading cause of death in Vermont among all age groups. 34% of people who died by suicide had a primary care visit for their mental health within the last year. As a response to this statewide issue, I assisted Richmond Family Medicine’s application for this year’s Suicide-Safer Care Mini-Grant.
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Improving Cardiovascular Health in Low Socioeconomic Status Women through the Vermont You First Program
Bradley M. Anair
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. Low socioeconomic status women are in a unique position because cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality is higher in lower socioeconomic status groups, and the risks of cardiovascular disease are often underappreciated in women. This project aimed to improve cardiovascular health in low socioeconomic status women through increasing awareness of the Vermont You First program. This program covers the cost of screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease for low socioeconomic status women. They also offer lifestyle perks to improve cardiovascular health. This intervention will help alleviate the financial obstacle that low socioeconomic status women face in achieving optimal cardiovascular health.
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Analysis of Primary Care Practice Patterns and Knowledge of Microscopic Hematuria
Clemens An
To analyze and assess the primary care practices regarding the diagnostic evaluation of microscopic hematuria
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Improving Healthcare for Coptic Egyptian Migrants
Lorena Ayoub
There is very little known about Coptic Egyptian migrant health in the current literature. Exploring health beliefs and behaviors in regard to seeking medical care is important. Additionally, understanding how the Coptic church plays a role in healthcare is essential as many Coptic individuals believe spirituality influences physical health.
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Transportation to Little Rivers Health Clinic in Wells River, Vermont
Anupama Balasubramanian
Transportation to healthcare appointments is one of the biggest challenges that rural patients face. Currently, there are no resources available to patients at Little Rivers Health Care that can help them with transportation-related knowledge. This project aims to create a guide that improves patients' understanding of the options they have available in getting to their appointments.
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