Support from the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) is enabling UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) faculty Geof Swain, MD, MPH, and Randall Brown, MD, PhD, FASAM, to launch projects to improve health outcomes for two populations: formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering the community, and people at risk for or who have opioid use disorders, respectively.

Dr. Swain: Supporting Prisoners’ Re-Entry into Society

“The hope is to improve health outcomes not only for formerly incarcerated individuals but also for their families and communities.”
—Geof Swain, MD, MPH

Dr. Swain received a five-year, $1 million grant from the WPP to reduce barriers and improve health for people returning to the community from prison.

Many formerly incarcerated individuals face major obstacles to employment, education, housing and family relationships—social determinants that are key to good health.

They also have a higher likelihood of chronic illnesses like asthma, hypertension and arthritis, and their children often have an increased risk of neglect or abuse, delinquency and poor academic performance.

Dr. Swain will collaborate with WISDOM, a group of 160 faith congregations that works for social justice and improvement of population-level health in the state.

David Liners, WISDOM’s director, considers our current system of incarceration and reentry to be “a public health problem with widespread negative health effects on people, communities and populations,” and believes that “changes could be made in the process of reintegrating non-violent offenders back into society without compromising public safety” in order to improve the health and well-being of former prisoners and their families.

Under the project, WISDOM’s ex-prisoner advocacy group, EXPO, will be expanded to train more former prisoners to provide leadership and individual mentoring.  The leaders will work with prisoners re-entering society to identify and assess the biggest barriers to successfully rejoining society.

The project will also include a health-impact assessment of current and potential criminal justice policies that relate to community re-entry and crimeless parole and probation revocations.

“The ultimate goal is to improve health by improving re-entry into society and by reducing needless return to prison,” said Dr. Swain. “The hope is to improve health outcomes not only for formerly incarcerated individuals but also for their families and communities.”

Read the full story: http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/project-aims-to-improve-health-by-reducing-barriers-of-prisoner-re-entry-to-society/47105

Dr. Brown: Reducing Opioid Addiction Risk

“We urgently need effective means to identify risk for opioid-related complications, and interventions to prevent opioid use disorders and overdose deaths.”
—Randall Brown, MD, PhD, FASAM

Dr. Brown received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the WPP to develop an opioid risk screening tool specifically aimed at traumatic injury victims, who are at high risk for subsequent opioid addiction.

It’s part of his long-range goal to address the 300 percent increase in opioid overdoses and related deaths in Wisconsin over the past decade.

Dr. Brown will collaborate with Andrew Quanbeck, PhD, a scientist in the UW College of Engineering, and collaborators in UW Hospital’s trauma surgery group.

In the first year of the study, they will invite clinicians from Wisconsin trauma centers to a summit where they will be surveyed about practices related to opioid risk screening, potential barriers to screening and resources available to support patients with opioid use disorders.

The researchers will also recruit up to 490 traumatic-injury patients at University Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center to provide information on socio-demographics, substance use history, opioid misuse risk, mental health, medical history and injury and pain severity.

The information gathered will be the basis for development of an opioid risk screening tool to be tested at Level I and II trauma centers in Wisconsin in the third year of the project.

“Opioid addiction and overdose have reached epidemic proportions in Wisconsin and in the United States,” said Brown.  “We urgently need effective means to identify risk for opioid-related complications, and interventions to prevent opioid use disorders and overdose deaths.”

Read the full story: http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/research-team-to-develop-and-test-opioid-risk-screening-tool/47197

Published: January 2016

The post DFMCH Faculty Lead New Projects to Help Prisoners Rejoin Society, Reduce Opioid Addiction appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

Brian Arndt, MD, (on right) prepares a meal with two participants in the Prairie Kitchen Cooking Club

Seniors in the Verona area are learning how to prepare nutritional, affordable meals—and how good nutrition can help improve their health—thanks to a new community medicine project led by the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s (DFMCH) Melissa Stiles, MD, and Brian Arndt, MD.

Each month, they hold the Prairie Kitchen Cooking Club, a two-hour class for people aged 55 and over that offers nutrition education, hands-on food preparation and lots of fun.

Nutrition Education and Food Preparation

Drs. Stiles and Arndt created the Prairie Kitchen Cooking Club in partnership with the Verona Senior Center and the Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN), which makes its commercial kitchen available for the class.

Each session accommodates up to 12 people; seniors from anywhere in Dane County can sign up.

After an introductory nutrition presentation by Dr. Stiles, Dr. Arndt and Hy-Vee dietician Kara Hoerr, participants prepare a meal together using recipes that work in smaller portions and that use ingredients available at BPNN’s food pantry.

The $5 registration fee covers all instruction and food—and participants can take home what they prepare.

Dr. Stiles said that each session has been well attended, and feedback has been very positive. “Some of the participants have never cooked before, so for them this is particularly educational as well as fun,” she noted.

Focusing on Food for Health

DFMCH resident Jared Dubey, DO, (on right) also helps lead the Prairie Kitchen Cooking Club.

The Prairie Kitchen Cooking Club is one facet of a new DFMCH initiative, Clinicians in the Kitchen, that aims to raise awareness among primary care clinicians, learners and patients of the role food plays in health.

In addition to Drs. Stiles and Arndt, the group includes 10 DFMCH faculty, fellows and residents, and Julie Andrews, a registered dietician and coordinator of the Learning Kitchen at UW Health at the American Center.

Currently, they are developing Food as Medicine, a series of public classes on how to cook carb-smart, heart-healthy and gluten-free meals, and identifying ways to include culinary medicine experiences in medical student education.

Published: January 2016

The post DFMCH Faculty Lead Cooking Class for Verona Seniors appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

New mothers and babies who receive care at UW Health primary care medical homes have access to the nation’s first and most robust outpatient breastfeeding support program, thanks to efforts by the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s (DFMCH) Anne Eglash, MD, IBCLC.

Dr. Eglash leads the UW Health Outpatient Breastfeeding Champion Program, which has successfully trained nurses in nearly every UW Health primary care clinic to provide education, support and clinical assessments for families experiencing breastfeeding challenges.

A Need for Support Beyond the Hospital

“UW Health is first medical system in the country to develop a strategy, and such an extensive network, for outpatient breastfeeding support in medical homes. This is something we created that’s really innovative.”
—Anne Eglash, MD, IBCLC

The program addresses a nationally recognized need to better support breastfeeding in the outpatient setting.

Although many hospitals work to promote breastfeeding—in some cases earning “Baby-Friendly”® certification—many new families struggle to sustain breastfeeding in the first weeks after coming home.

“Many governmental and nongovernmental organizations have been in a quandary on best practices for supporting breastfeeding within medical systems, after moms and babies leave the hospital,” Dr. Eglash noted.

She said that families needing help may be referred to a lactation consultant, but often, well-meaning medical professionals advise them to supplement with formula. That’s because most physicians and nurses don’t receive sufficient education on breastfeeding during their professional schooling.

“Studies show that when health care providers are supportive, there’s an increase in breastfeeding rates,” Dr. Eglash explained. “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force agrees that it’s valuable to provide this support, but providers don’t get the training. It’s a problem around the world.”

Educating Champions at Every Clinic

To begin to address the issue, Dr. Eglash proposed educating one nurse in every UW Health family medicine, pediatrics, and OB/GYN primary care clinic to serve as that clinic’s breastfeeding champion.

In 2012, she received an UW Health Ambulatory Care Innovation Grant to develop a 16-hour training program for the champions. It includes triage tools; patient education handouts; and training on correct latching, breast pump use, and growth curve assessment.

With those skills, champions can support new mothers over the phone or in the clinic during a well-baby visit.

The first two groups of UW Health champions completed the curriculum in the spring of 2013 and 2015, respectively. A third group will complete it in February 2016.

The champions keep their knowledge up to date through quarterly in-service sessions and access to a professional network of breastfeeding educators.

And if families need more assistance than the champions can provide, Dr. Eglash and a board-certified lactation consultant are available for consultation.

Extensive Support Network

Dr. Eglash said that the program provides a valuable support system for new families. Lactation consultants at nearby hospitals know about it and help connect new mothers with the champion at their clinic.

Initial program evaluations have shown high satisfaction among the champions. Dr. Eglash is currently surveying other providers on their impressions of the program, and is identifying ways to study how it impacts patient satisfaction measures and breastfeeding rates.

“UW Health is first medical system in the country to develop a strategy, and such an extensive network, for outpatient breastfeeding support in medical homes,” she reflected. “This is something we created that’s really innovative.”

Published: January 2016

The post Anne Eglash, MD, Spearheads Innovative Breastfeeding Champion Program appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The 20th annual Prolotherapy Research Symposium and Conference was held in Madison, WI on October 21-24, 2015.

Over 100 physicians and 40 instructors from around the world gathered in Madison on October 21-24, 2015, for the 20th annual Prolotherapy Research Symposium and Conference, an in-depth clinical education and research event held on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

In prolotherapy and other forms of injection therapy, a physician inserts a needle containing an irritant or regenerative solution, such as dextrose, into a joint space, or at a ligament or tendon attachment, to treat the affected tissue—and ultimately relieve joint and myofascial pain.

Prolotherapy is most frequently used to treat knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, tendinopathies, and myofascial pain, a chronic condition that affects the fascia, the connective tissue covering the muscles.

New Research in Injection Therapy

The two-part conference began with the one-day Prolotherapy Research Symposium, in which presenters reviewed recently published and ongoing clinical research studies on prolotherapy and related regenerative injection therapies.

Studies have shown that prolotherapy can be highly effective, especially for osteoarthritis and tennis elbow, but clinicians need specialized education to administer it correctly.

Proper Technique Taught by Expert Faculty

In the second part of the conference, The Anatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Chronic Myofascial Pain with Prolotherapy, attendees received hands-on basic and advanced training in anatomy and proper injection techniques by expert practitioners.

Among them were the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s (DFMCH) Bobby Nourani, DO; David Rabago, MD; Deborah Raehl, DO; and Michael Weber, MD.

“This clinical conference provides necessary didactic presentation of core anatomical injection techniques along with hands-on education delivered by clinicians with years of expertise,” explained Dr Rabago.

“We use state-of-the-art instructional methods, including real-time imaging, and live and cadaveric models to ensure proper marking and injection technique,” he continued. “The broad range of teaching strategies used in this conference is unique in the prolotherapy community.”

“Thanks again for a great prolotherapy conference. This is probably the best conference I attend…in terms of the faculty and the attendees and how well it is organized.”

—Feedback from conference attendee

Thanks to Our Supporters

The annual conference would not be possible without the support of Mary Doherty, Hackett Hemwall Patterson Foundation president and conference coordinator, who planned the event along with Dr. Rabago. Doherty is a former UW Health Verona Clinic employee and the partner of the late Jeffrey Patterson, DO, who was an international expert in prolotherapy.

Institutional support was provided by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and its Office of Continuing Professional Development in Medicine and Public Health; and the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

Special thanks also goes to:

• Martin Gallagher, MD, DC, whose generosity supports the Dr. Martin and Charlotte Gallagher Scholarship for Prolotherapy.
• The Hackett Hemwall Patterson Foundation, which provided seed funds to create the UW Prolotherapy Education and Research Lab (UW PEARL), a collaboration between primary care and specialty clinicians aimed at furthering prolotherapy education and research.

Published: January 2016

The post DFMCH Faculty Teach at 20th Annual Prolotherapy Conference appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

“Since SBIRT is well documented to improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs, UW trainees who complete the curriculum will be in a position to help their future healthcare organizations thrive as value-based reimbursement takes hold.”
—Richard L. Brown, MD, MPH

The UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Richard L. Brown, MD, MPH, recently launched a new project to educate more than 2,000 University of Wisconsin health professions learners on how to provide screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for patients with alcohol and drug issues.

Dr. Brown is implementing and evaluating the program for family medicine and internal medicine residents and medical, nursing, pharmacy, psychology and social work students.

It includes interactive learning modules, including video demonstrations of skills and quizzes, on Learn@UW, the university’s online learning platform. Ultimately, residents and students will practice their skills with patients.

For SBIRT, patients are asked once a year to fill out a form with alcohol and drug questions. Medical assistants review the forms and identify any positive responses. Providers can then talk with patients about their alcohol and drug use.

“Most of the benefit comes from brief intervention,” said Brown. “Providers can help patients decide if they’d like to cut down or quit. The nice bonus is that patients’ health improves and injuries are avoided, which will save money on health care costs.”

Brown also said that studies show alcohol and drug-use intervention cuts down on emergency department visits, hospitalizations and car crashes and accidents.

Listen to Dr. Brown’s interview about the new grant on Wisconsin Public Radio.

The project is supported by a three-year, $950,000 grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and administered by the Wisconsin Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (WIPHL).

Dr. Brown also led a similar, smaller program for UW-La Crosse health education students, and participates in a program to administer and evaluate the effectiveness of SBIRT in eight southeastern Wisconsin high schools. Both of those projects were supported by grants from the Wisconsin Partnership Program.

Adapted from SMPH news: http://www.med.wisc.edu/news-events/alcohol-and-drug-screening-and-intervention-curriculum-launches-in-january/46557

Published: January 2016

The post Rich Brown to Lead New SBIRT Training Program for UW Health Professionals appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s (DFMCH) statewide residency programs and physician assistant program recently achieved significant approvals from their respective accrediting organizations.

“Being one of the first programs to obtain osteopathic recognition clearly demonstrates our department’s commitment to being a nationwide leader in osteopathic family medicine.”
—Mark Robinson, DO, DFMCH director of osteopathic medical education

Residency Programs Receive Osteopathic Recognition

In November 2015, the DFMCH’s statewide residency programs were approved for osteopathic recognition by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

They were among the first 13 family medicine residency programs in the nation to receive the recognition.

Osteopathic recognition is an added qualification that residency programs can obtain from the ACGME. It demonstrates that a program offers residents osteopathic training that follows training guidelines outlined by the ACGME’s Osteopathic Principles Committee. Recognition also helps medical students assess how potential programs have incorporated osteopathic principles into their training curriculum.

The ACGME, along with the American Osteopathic Association and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, have been moving toward a single system of graduate medical education accreditation.

The ACGME is a national organization that reviews and accredits graduate medical education (residency and fellowship) programs, and the institutions that sponsor them, in the United States.

PA Program Reaccredited for 10 Years with No Citations

In September 2015, the UW-Madison Physician Assistant (PA) Program received continued accreditation for the next 10 years by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

The ARC-PA is the accrediting agency that defines the standards for PA education and evaluates PA educational programs within the United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

The Commission reviewed the program’s materials and recommendations made after its site visit in April 2015. It made its reaccreditation recommendation with no citations, a phenomenal accomplishment that speaks highly to the strengths of the program and its faculty, staff and students.

A program that has successfully completed an accreditation review has in place the needed instructional, student support, and other services to assist students to achieve their educational goals. It means the program lives up to its promises: to a student, it means they can have confidence that a degree has value; to the public, it conveys confidence in the worth of the program.

“We are extremely proud of the program’s re-accreditation, especially that we were found to meet or exceed all accreditation standards. It speaks highly to the fact that we have an infrastructure of continuous self-assessment and self-improvement that makes us such a solid program. Accreditation requires an inordinate investment for everyone in the program and the exceptional result is certainly testament to our team’s hard work and our program’s strength.”
—Virginia Snyder, PhD, PA-C, PA Program director

Thanks and congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to prepare for the programs’ reaccreditation applications and site visits.

Published: January 2016

The post DFMCH Education Programs Receive Accreditation Approvals appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (UW DFMCH) honored faculty and staff at its annual Renner Hansen awards ceremony on November 11, 2015, at the Pyle Center.

Photo Slideshow

« ‹ 4 of 14 › »

Education and Entertainment: Renner Award Winner Zorba Paster

Zorba Paster, MD, received the John H. Renner, MD “Wisconsin Idea” award for his long-standing support of the DFMCH and for his work to educate the public on health and wellness.

Watch Dr. Pastor’s acceptance

Dr. Paster and his wife Penny are the driving forces behind the DFMCH’s Compassion in Action awards, which recognize medical students who work to improve health care in medically disadvantaged communities.

Dr. Paster is well known as the host of Zorba Paster: On Your Health, a weekly radio show on Wisconsin Public Radio that attracts nearly 150,000 listeners each week. He also has written three books, appears regularly on WISC-TV, and writes a column each Sunday in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Most recently, Dr. Paster has focused his efforts on improving health in Tibet. He’s the chair of Friends of Delek Hospital, has worked to improve access to care for families there affected by tuberculosis, and is facilitating travel there for four UW School of Medicine and Public Health students.

Embracing Risk: Hansen Lecturer Ildi Martonffy

Andrea (Ildi) Martonffy, MD, received the Marc Hansen Lectureship Award. In her presentation, “Embracing Risk,” she explained how risk makes us feel vulnerable because its connected to what we value.

She then discussed the different ways patients, learners and clinicians approach risk—and how risk can provide hidden opportunities for growth if we take the time to understand it.

“[We should] embrace the risks involved in change, and create ties that create security,” she said.

Watch Dr. Martonffy’s presentation

Commitment to Service: Staff and Researcher Awards

The PA Program’s Joel Hill, MPAS, PA-C, and Erin McCarthy Orth received the Faculty Excellence Award and Robert Drachenberg Staff Excellence Award, respectively. In his introduction, PA Program Medical Director John Beasley, MD, praised them for their dedication to the program, their educational leadership and their outstanding work managing an ever-increasing number of program applicants.

Charlene Luchterhand, MSSW, receive the William Scheckler, MD, Outstanding Research Publication award for her work as lead author on “Creating a Culture of Mindfulness in Medicine”. The article, which appeared in the June 2015 issue of WMJ, describes a systems-level strategy that fostered mindfulness among clinician leaders, thereby promoting health and resilience for clinicians and patients.

Finally, Robin Lankton, MPH, CHES, received the inaugural Chair’s Award for her leadership skills and service to the DFMCH. Robin has been instrumental in our name change and transformation to a department of family medicine and community health, and has worked to establish our new Office of Community Health, which she now co-directs.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Published: January 2016

The post Meet the 2015 Renner Hansen Honorees appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

On October 23, 2015, the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (UW DFMCH) celebrated its 45^th anniversary at the Pyle Center with a special continuing medical education event—“Whole ME, Whole WE”—followed by an evening reception for faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

Inspiration and Reflection

“Whole ME, Whole WE” was an inspiring day of presentations, interactive discussions, movement exercises and self-reflection.

« ‹ 1 of 15 › »

Participants examined the importance of self-care in supporting not just their own health, but the health of their patients and communities.

“If we’re not healthy, our communities can’t be healthy,” explained David Rakel, MD, who oversaw the event. “The one person we have control over is ourselves.”

DFMCH faculty and staff presenters were joined by several special guests:

• John Denu, PhD, a professor of biomolecular chemistry and director of the epigenetics theme at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, who spoke about how nutrition, exercise and lifestyle behaviors can influence our genetic code and in turn, our cell expression;

• Nansi Jo Colley, PhD, a professor in the UW Department of Ophthalmology and yoga teacher at the UW Sports Medicine Center, who led the group in yoga and movement exercises; and

• Donal MacCoon, PhD, a clinical psychologist and fellow at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, who combined science, humor and music in a presentation on sustainable, resilient living.

View the entire agenda and presentations

Many participants made plans for self-change as a result of the event. “Many aspects will be taken back and applied to clinic and home,” said one. “Clinic will focus on culture change. Home will focus on dietary changes. [I] will also focus on personal stress management as this affects both areas.”

“This was by far the best conference/meeting/event that I have attended while at the DFMCH,” said another participant. “I came to this with low expectations and I was beyond surprised. [It was] truly a great day that was absolutely worth my time.”

Anniversary Reception

The day continued with the DFMCH’s 45^th anniversary reception, a celebration of our transformation into a department of family medicine and community health.

« ‹ 1 of 12 › »

Faculty, staff, learners and old and new friends gathered to socialize, share stories and enjoy a photo slideshow of the department’s 45-year history.

Thanks to everyone who attended the events. We’re grateful for your dedication, commitment and service. Here’s to the next 45 years!

Published: January 2016

The post The DFMCH Celebrates 45 Years! appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health seeks a Lactation Medicine Fellow.

Job Responsibilities:

The Lactation Medicine Fellow will provide clinical breastfeeding management in the UW breastfeeding clinic and provide Family Medicine services, caring for patients at the Mt. Horeb Family Medicine Clinic with the fellowship director. OB is optional.  They will also supervise and teach residents and other learners in the clinical setting.  As part of the fellowship they will complete a scholarly project related to breastfeeding. The scholarly projects could involve participating in protocol development, preparation of educational handouts, writing and publishing case reports, writing review articles for several breastfeeding medicine journals and a minimal risk research project under the mentorship of Breastfeeding Medicine and other UW faculty. This fellowship is under the direction of Dr. Anne Eglash, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

This is a one-year fellowship with possibility for extension for one additional year.

In addition, as a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, this physician will have access to teaching and other programs which are part of the Department.

This is the place to practice family medicine in a strong primary care community. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is one of the nation’s top primary care medical schools and the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health is ranked as the nation’s #5 family medicine department in U.S. News & World Report (2015).

Salary/Benefits: Salary and Benefits (combination of University of Wisconsin and UW Medical Foundation salary and benefits)

Hospitals: Meriter Hospital

Community: Madison (population 243,000), the vibrant capital of Wisconsin and home of the University of Wisconsin, and the many picturesque surrounding towns, has the best of all worlds: natural beauty and outdoor recreation, stimulating cultural offerings, distinctive restaurants and shops, and an irreverent spirit of fun. Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, Madison is renowned for its beautiful scenery. A total of five area lakes and more than 260 city parks create the perfect setting for an abundance of year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, swimming and sailing along with cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice fishing. Urban culture, natural beauty, small town charm – the greater Madison area offers it all!

PVL #: 82757

The UW-Madison is an EO/AA employer, women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Wisconsin caregiver and open records laws apply. A background check will be conducted prior to employment.

The post Clinical Instructor – Lactation Medicine Fellow (PVL: 82757) appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

DFMCH faculty and staff volunteer at the first Days of Service activity on Mon, Jan 18, 2016, at the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The DFMCH held the first Days of Service activity on Monday, January 18, 2016, at the Second Harvest Food Bank. In three hours, DFMCH faculty and staff volunteers packaged over 10,000 pounds of turkey sausage patties for the largest food bank in southwestern Wisconsin. They had a great time working together, and their efforts helped people throughout the region get enough food to live healthy lives.

The DFMCH is planning several more Days of Service in the coming months. These include a household item donation drive for the YWCA, and outdoor cleanup at the Ice Age Trail and the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. All of these events recognize our name change to a department of family medicine and community health, and celebrate our recent 45^th anniversary.

Please consider volunteering for one of these fun community service opportunities. You can sign up online at http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/contact/service-days/.

The post DFMCH Days of Service Make a Difference appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

Description: In this series of mindfulness audio podcasts, UW Health experts share meditation and breathing exercises.

Authors: Katherine Bonus, MA; Victoria Goodman, LCSW, CSAC; Andrew Moore, MD; Lisa Rambaldo, PsyD; Howard Schubiner, MD; Michael Waupoose, LCSW, CSAC

Related Mindfulness Videos / Podcasts

• Circles of Suffering
• Evidence-Based Mindfulness
• Mindfulness Meditation Podcast Series
• Mindfulness Meditations for Health
• Presence and the Healing Encounter
• The Pause
• The Pearl
• Transition to Independence

The post Mindfulness Meditation Podcast Series appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

Seven doctors graduated from Ethiopia’s first family medicine residency program on February 4, 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Graduates holding diplomas in the first row include, left to right, Elnathan Kebebew, Sena Dhugasa, Meseret Zerihun, Murutse Atsebaha, Assefa Alamirew, Assegid Geleta, and Assefa Beyene.

On February 4, 2016, seven Ethiopian doctors became the first graduates from the family medicine residency program at Addis Ababa University’s College of Health Sciences. This 3-year residency program is the first such program in Ethiopia and an important step in improving health care services in a country with more than 100 million people. The residency program is one outcome of the University of Wisconsin’s Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) with Addis Ababa University.

“These graduates are an inspiration to me, as they create Family Medicine in Ethiopia from the ground up to suit the Ethiopian context and needs,” says UW family physician Ann Evensen, MD, who attended the graduation ceremony in Ethiopia. “It was an honor to represent the UW and the American Academy of Family Physicians at such an historic occasion.”

In 2010, the NIH funded the Medical Education Partnership Initiative with a $130 million grant, aimed at enhancing medicine in 12 sub-Saharan African countries. These efforts were spearheaded by Girma Tefera, MD, a vascular surgeon in the UW Department of Surgery and a native of Ethiopia, and Cynthia Haq, MD, from the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

“When I first visited Ethiopia in 2001, very few people had heard about family medicine,” reflects Haq.

Through a series of visits and collaborations with faculty from AAU, the UW, and University of Toronto, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health approved the first training program in 2012. Government leaders have now embraced the concept and called for rapid expansion and development of new family medicine training programs.

“The ownership of this program is really in their hands, which helps ensure it will succeed and be sustainable,” Tefera says.

According to Haq, “The first graduates of the AAU family medicine residency are living examples of the value of well-trained generalist physicians who can provide high-quality care for patients across the life span and are prepared to promote the health of individuals, families and communities. We look forward to continued progress as our new colleagues expand and open new training programs.”

Published: February 2016

The post Ethiopia Graduates First Family Medicine Doctors Through Residency Program Developed in Partnership with the University of Wisconsin appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Yahara Clinic, located in Monona, Wisconsin, seeks a Clinical Physician.

Job Responsibilities:

We are interested in a dynamic family physician to provide the full spectrum of family medicine skills including maternity care (OB).

The successful candidate will provide direct clinical care and participate in faculty call. In addition, as a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, this physician will have access to teaching and other programs which are part of the Department.

This is the place to practice family medicine in a strong primary care community. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is one of the nation’s top primary care medical schools and the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health is ranked as the nation’s #5 family medicine department in U.S. News & World Report (2015).

Salary/Benefits: Competitive Salary and excellent Benefits (combination of University of Wisconsin and UW Medical Foundation salary and benefits)

Hospitals: Meriter Hospital, UW Hospital,

Community:  Monona, with its 8000+ residents and 330+ acres of greenspace, is conveniently located on the southeast side of Madison. Madison (population 220,000), the vibrant capital of Wisconsin and home of the University of Wisconsin, and the many picturesque surrounding towns, has the best of all worlds: natural beauty and outdoor recreation, stimulating cultural offerings, distinctive restaurants and shops, and an irreverent spirit of fun. Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, Madison is renowned for its beautiful scenery. A total of five area lakes and more than 260 city parks create the perfect setting for an abundance of year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, swimming and sailing along with cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice fishing. Urban culture, natural beauty, small town charm – the greater Madison area offers it all!

PVL #:  84976

The UW-Madison is an EO/AA employer, women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Wisconsin caregiver and open records laws apply. A background check will be conducted prior to employment.

The post Clinical Physician – Yahara Clinic (PVL: 84976) appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

DFMCH participants in Doctor Day 2016, from left: Madison residency program graduate Aistis Tumas, MD; faculty David Deci, MD; faculty John Beasley, MD; resident Jennifer Perkins, MD; resident Allison Couture, DO.

UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) faculty and residents were among the over 300 physicians from around Wisconsin who visited the State Capitol on February 10, 2016, to participate in Doctor Day 2016.

The event—organized by the Wisconsin Medical Society, with support from 17 state medical specialty societies, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin—brings physicians together to advocate on behalf of patients and the medical profession.

Briefing on Three Key Issues

After a welcome from Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, participants were briefed about three current health care-related legislative issues:

• Assembly Bill 489, which contains language to remove the health care provider exception to reporting adolescent sexual content and activity;
• The Heroin, Opiate Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda, and the associated Assembly Bill 364, which requires that physicians review a patient’s record under the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program before issuing a prescription for potentially addictive drugs; and
• Assembly Bill 549, which would authorize physical therapists to order x-rays for patients outside a hospital setting or without the supervision of a physician.

Keys to Effective Advocacy

The DFMCH’s David Deci, MD, then introduced Tim Hoven, who spoke about the legislative process, barriers to effective advocacy and strategies for developing relationships with legislators.

“We hope to get as many family physicians from around the state in a position where they may serve as key legislative contacts,” Dr. Deci explained. “As family physicians, we have broad exposure to our patients, we’re heavily engaged in our community, we understand the principles of public health and social determinants of health, and are best positioned to educate, advise and influence legislation that’s in the best interests of our [specialty] and our patients.”

Following afternoon presentations from leaders of three Wisconsin medical specialty societies, participants then met in person with legislators to further discuss the issues presented earlier in the day.

‘An Excellent Learning Experience’

The day was also a valuable opportunity for learners wishing to engage in advocacy efforts. DFMCH resident Alison Couture, DO, who attended the event and who has had experience with national legislative advocacy, emphasized that individuals can collaborate with society policy and advocacy teams in addition to, or instead of, meeting one-on-one with legislators.

“[Doctor Day] was an excellent learning experience,” she reflected. “We absolutely have a voice. The most common thing I heard from legislators is that ‘we want to hear from you and we need to hear your opinion.’”

Published: February 2016

The post Advocacy at the Capitol: DFMCH Faculty, Residents Participate in Doctor Day 2016 appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

Former ALSO program manager Diana Winslow, RN, BSN, with ALSO founders James Damos, MD, and John Beasley, MD at the reception

On August 10, 2016, UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) faculty and friends came together for a presentation and reception to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®), a course originally developed by the DFMCH’s James Damos, MD, and John Beasley, MD.

The celebration was held at Madison’s Concourse Hotel during the national Family-Centered Maternity Care (FCMC) conference sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

During the event, Stephen Ratcliffe, MD, MSPH, a faculty member at Penn Medicine’s Lancaster General Health family medicine residency program, was celebrated for serving as FCMC conference chair from 2008-2016. The DFMCH’s Lee Dresang, MD, will serve as FCMC chair starting in 2017.

Slideshow

Richard Roberts, MD, JD, speaks while Dr. Leeman and Dr. Dresang look on

« ‹ 1 of 7 › »

The ALSO Journey

The sold-out FCMC conference attracted 320 maternity care providers from around the country, many of whom are family physicians.

Dr. Dresang, along with the University of New Mexico’s Larry Leeman, MD, MPH, presented “Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO): A Remarkable 25-Year Journey,” in which they shared the history and international expansion of the ALSO program over the past quarter century.

Rounding out their presentation was a video with clips from early ALSO authors, including Steven Eisinger, MD, as well as international ALSO leaders.

In 1991, Dr. Damos and Dr. Beasley developed the ALSO course to teach maternity health care providers—family physicians, obstetricians, midwives, emergency medicine physicians and nurses—ways to better manage obstetric emergencies.

In 1993, AAFP purchased the course; it has since been taken by over 160,000 maternity care providers in over 60 countries around the world.

The two-day course uses manikins for hands-on learning, focuses on teamwork and communication skills, and teaches mnemonics so providers can better remember management strategies during emergencies.

Dr. Dresang, who is on the ALSO editorial board, said the one-third of the course curriculum is updated each year in response to new evidence.

Meeting the Needs of Rural, Underserved and Low-Resource Areas

The ALSO program specifically helps providers in rural and underserved areas who may have lower-volume, but higher-acuity, practices.

Forty-six percent of rural family physicians practice obstetrics,” noted Dr. Dresang. “In some states, 100 percent of rural maternity care providers are family physicians. The need is great.”

In 2015, DFMCH faculty published a paper in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics showing the positive outcomes of ALSO training in four low-resource countries.

They found that ALSO training helped decrease overall maternal mortality, decrease postpartum hemorrhage and related maternal mortality, decrease episiotomy rates and increase caregiver comfort in managing obstetrical emergencies.

Also attending the celebration were the following AAFP leaders and DFMCH faculty:

• Clifton Knight, MD, FAAFP, AAFP vice president for education
• Diana Winslow, RN, BSN, ALSO program manager (1994-2014)
• Carl Olden, MD, AAFP board of directors
• Alan Schwartzstein, MD, AAFP vice speaker
• Robyn Brumble, BSN, RNC-OB, AAFP manager of maternity care
• Jenn Head, ALSO program coordinator
• Ruth Flemming, ALSO program coordinator
• Karla Krause, AAFP FCMC program coordinator
• Richard Roberts, MD, JD
• Louis Sanner, MD, MPSH
• William Schwab, MD
• Doug Smith, MD
• Maureen Van Dinter, NP

Published: September 2016

The post ALSO Course Celebrates 25 Years! appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The UW Health Northeast Family Medical Center is helping to prevent falls among its elderly patients through increased outreach and an on-site falls prevention workshop.

The workshop, Stepping On, is an evidence-based program that can reduce up to 50 percent of falls in participants.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of four people age 65 and over fall each year; of those, one in five results in broken bones or a head injury. The average hospital cost for a fall injury is over $30,000.

Offered for the first time at the Northeast clinic in August and September, Stepping On focuses on strength and balance exercises; the role of vision, medications and footwear in falls risk; and safety hazards in the home.

Reaching Out to At-Risk Patients

“We got all the segments of our clinic together—reception staff, nurses, clinicians—to be educated on the significance of falls and to talk about what we can do to help patients.”
—William Schwab, MD

All Northeast clinic patients over age 65 are already screened for falls risk as part of UW Health Accountable Care Organization (ACO) requirements.

But the effort at Northeast went further: once at-risk patients were identified, clinic staff actively reached out, using scripts and promotional brochures to encourage them to attend the Stepping On workshop.

“We got all the segments of our clinic together—reception staff, nurses, clinicians—to be educated on the significance of falls and to talk about what we can do to help patients,” explained William Schwab, MD. “We created a linkage from the screening to the intervention—under the same roof.”

If the on-site workshop wasn’t convenient, staff helped direct patients to other falls prevention resources in the community.

Dr. Schwab added that the clinic’s patient and family advisory council provided input on ways to communicate with patients so they would better understand the value of the Stepping On program.

Stepping On has also been offered at the Yahara Clinic, as well as at other UW Health clinics. (View complete list of upcoming classes at UW Health locations)

To learn more about bringing a Stepping On workshop to your clinic, call (608) 890-5651 or email steppingon@uwhealth.org.

Published: October 2016

The post Northeast Clinic Takes ‘Steps’ to Prevent Elderly Falls appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

“Conducting a randomized controlled trial in long-term care environments…transforms our expertise from monitoring efforts to evaluating innovative infection control approach in a highly vulnerable population.”
—Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD

Influenza is a devastating infection that disproportionately affects residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs), resulting in high attack rates, frequent hospitalizations and mortality.

With grant support from the Wisconsin Partnership Program, the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD, will lead a multidisciplinary team of researchers in an innovative infection control approach for this highly vulnerable population.

How the Study Works

The project will test the effectiveness of simple, inexpensive and adaptable technology for extremely early on-site detection of influenza in LTCFs.

Twenty LTCFs across Wisconsin are participating in the randomized controlled clinical trial. At the intervention sites, nurses will collect nasal swab specimens from residents with acute respiratory infections, and perform rapid influenza detection testing of the specimens. Anonymous results will be sent automatically and wirelessly to the study team and public health personnel for daily review.

If a result tests positive for influenza, the study team will communicate directly with LTCF staff, providing advice on antiviral treatment, antiviral prophylaxis, and appropriate infection control practices.

Over the course of three influenza seasons, the team will collect and analyze data on prescribing patterns of influenza antivirals (for treatment and prophylaxis), as well as influenza-related hospitalizations, deaths and healthcare-associated costs.

In addition to Dr. Temte, the study team comprises the DFMCH’s Irene Hamrick, MD, and Marlon Mundt, PhD, plus Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene diagnostic laboratory scientist Peter Shult, PhD, and Wisconsin Division of Public Health influenza epidemiologist Tom Haupt, MS.

A New Model for Influenza Control

For Dr. Temte, the study represents a new direction in his research.

“Conducting a randomized controlled trial in long-term care environments is a major shift from our past efforts,” he reflected. “It transforms our expertise from monitoring efforts to evaluating innovative infection control approach in a highly vulnerable population.”

Currently, the 396 LTCFs in Wisconsin have beds for 33,851 total residents—a growing population that contributes disproportionally to the estimated $160 million in annual economic costs of influenza for elder Wisconsinites.

Although early public health involvement can help manage influenza outbreaks in LTCFs, current approaches and capacities for detecting influenza are often inadequate. Delays thus allow the disease to spread within a LTCF and affect higher numbers of residents.

If the project proves effective, it could serve as translatable model for very early and proactive influenza control in more LTCFs, allowing for appropriate interventions that reduce morbidity, mortality and healthcare-associated costs.

---

The project, Rapid Assessment of and Prophylaxis for Influenza in Dwellers of Long-Term Care Facilities (RAPID-LTCF), is supported by a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program’s Collaborative Health Sciences Program

Published: October 2016

The post Innovative New Research Focuses on Influenza Detection, Response in Long-Term Care Facilities appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s (DFMCH) Nancy Pandhi, MD, MPH, PhD, and Rachel Grob, MA, PhD (also of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Patient Partnerships), are collaborators on healthexperiencesusa.org, a new web-based resource that identifies patterns and variation in patient experiences and presents them in patients’ own words.

Talking About Depression

Launched in July, the website’s first module shows young adults’ experience with depression through first-person video narratives, audiorecordings and text.

The narratives are grouped into categories such as first experiences with depression, living with depression and getting help. Specific topics within each category provide more detail.

Organizing the site in this way can help patients, families, caregivers, health care professionals, educators, researchers and policy makers better understand depression—from the patient’s perspective.

“With young adults in particular, to be able to speak their language and understand their experiences really makes a difference.”
—Nancy Pandhi, MD, MPH, PhD

“I can talk with patients about depression in lots of different ways, but with young adults in particular, to be able to speak their language and understand their experiences really makes a difference,” said Dr. Pandhi.  “When something like depression is so stigmatizing and scary, patients need to know their doctor understands how they feel so they can trust us to help them find their way.”

In an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, she explained how watching the videos can help clinicians learn to use specific words, such as “numbness” or “hollow,” that can help build a bond with patients.

Mental illnesses, including depression, affect one in four people in the U.S. and are the leading cause of disability. The majority of people who suffer from depression go untreated or receive inadequate treatment, often because they fail to recognize or understand the first signs of depression early in life.

Research Methodology Ensures Diverse Perspectives

The research methodology behind healthexperiencesusa.org was first developed at Oxford University. A similar initiative in the United Kingdom, healthtalk.org, now hosts more than 85 modules and received almost two million visits from the U.S. in 2015. It’s the first time those methods have been used in the U.S.

“It’s an exciting methodology that moves us from the singular patient voice to patients’ voices in the plural”
—Rachel Grob, MA, PhD

“It’s an exciting methodology that moves us from the singular patient voice to patients’ voices in the plural,” noted Dr. Grob. “In the research domain, as elsewhere in the patient engagement world, we have a problem with tokenism. The powerful solution offered by

[this] methodology and the tool we’ve harnessed here is that we can get a much broader range of perspectives.”

Specifically, it ensures patient diversity not only in terms of ethnicity, gender and sexuality, but also educational level, rural/urban/suburban background and personality, she explained in an article in the Wisconsin State Journal.

Over time, healthexperiences.usa will expand to include new modules with additional conditions. Those will be produced by Drs. Grob and Pandhi, along with colleagues at Oregon Health & Sciences University, Johns Hopkins University and Yale University—all of whom are part of the Health Experiences Research Network that’s implementing this work in the United States.

Meanwhile, Drs. Pandhi and Grob are working hard to disseminate the module on young adults’ experiences with depression far and wide. They encourage others to explore this new resource themselves, and pass the healthexperiencesusa.org URL on to others.

---

Adapted in part from a Center for Patient Partnerships news article

Published: October 2016

The post Nancy Pandhi and Rachel Grob Team Up on New Patient Experience Website appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recognized six UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) faculty, plus our Family Medicine Interest Group, with awards in 2016.

This is a remarkable achievement for our department. Congratulations to all the winners!

Learn more about their accomplishments below.

John Beasley, MD, FAAFP: Thomas W. Johnson Award for Career Contributions to Family Medicine Education

John Beasley, MD, FAAFP
2016 AAFP Thomas W. Johnson Award for Career Contributions to Family Medicine Education

DFMCH Professor John Beasley, MD, FAAFP, received the Johnson award, the AAFP’s highest honor, for his outstanding contributions to family medicine undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education.

Those include global health; practice-based research networks; rural health, medical education of family physicians and physician assistants; and the Improving Primary Care Through Industrial and Systems Engineering (I-PrACTISE) initiative. One of Dr. Beasley’s most significant legacies is the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) course that he developed in 1991 with James Damos, MD—which has since reached over 150,000 people in 54 countries.

“The Board commends you for your lifetime contribution to medical education; your innovative thinking, teaching, and research; and the profound influence your leadership has had at the local, state, national, and international levels,” wrote AAFP President Wanda D. Filer, MD, MBA, FAAFP, in Dr. Beasley’s award letter.

Cindy Haq, MD: Exemplary Teaching Award for Full-Time Faculty

Cindy Haq, MD
2016 AAFP Exemplary Teaching Award for Full-Time Faculty

DFMCH Professor Cindy Haq, MD, received the Exemplary Teaching Award for her work “as an innovator and leader in medical education, particularly in the areas of community health and global health.”

Dr. Haq developed and directs the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is also the founding director of what is now the University of Wisconsin-Madison Global Health Institute, and helped launch the first family medicine residency programs in Pakistan, Uganda and Ethiopia.

“Your dedication to providing compassionate care for communities in desperate need, both locally and globally, has been an inspiration for countless students, colleagues, and community partners,” noted Dr. Filer. “You are a shining example of the best in family medicine.”

David Gaus, MD, MPH: Humanitarian Award

David Gaus, MD, MPH
2016 AAFP Humanitarian Award

DFMCH Honorary Fellow David Gaus, MD, MPH, received the Humanitarian Award for demonstrating extraordinary and enduring humanitarian efforts both within and beyond the borders of the United States.

Dr. Gaus is the founder and executive director of Andean Health and Development (AHD), a non-governmental organization that builds sustainable rural health care infrastructure in Ecuador. AHD operates Hospital Pedro Vicente Maldonado, a self-sustaining hospital that is also a training ground for physicians, nurses, and local community leaders. In 2000, it also opened Hesburgh Hospital in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, which includes a simulation lab contextualized for rural Latin America and will serve as training headquarters for the region’s public sector physicians.

“You have built a reputation as an innovative, dedicated, compassionate physician who overcomes economic, cultural, and bureaucratic obstacles to care for underserved patients and communities,” wrote Dr. Filer.

Patricia Tellez-Giron, MD: Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for Practicing Doctors

Patricia Tellez-Giron, MD
2016 AAFP Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for Practicing Doctors

DFMCH Associate Professor Patricia Tellez-Giron, MD, received the Gold Foundation award for demonstrating the ideals of compassionate and respectful care for a patient’s physical and emotional well-being.

Dr. Tellez-Giron is the chair of Madison’s Latino Health Council, which has launched such annual community initiatives as the Latino Health Fair, Latino Chronic Disease Summit, Latino Mental Health summit and a Latino health teen bash. She is also the medical director and main presenter of a monthly health education Spanish radio program on La Movida, Madison’s local Spanish radio station.

“As a family physician, you are a testament to the joy that comes from serving others. The Board commends you for your exemplary record of community and professional service, and for your dedication to caring for patients with the utmost cultural sensitivity, empathy, and respect,” wrote Dr. Filer.

Richard Roberts, MD, JD, FAAFP, FCLM: Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service to Family Medicine

Richard Roberts, MD, JD, FAAFP, FCLM
2016 AAFP Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service

DFMCH Professor Richard Roberts, MD, JD, FAAFP, FCLM, received the Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service for his long-time dedication to advancing, contributing, and supporting to the AAFP and the specialty of family medicine. Dr. Roberts has been affiliated with the DFMCH since 1983, and was interim chair from 1992-1993.

He has served as president of the Wisconsin Medical Society, the AAFP and World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca), and has taught in more than 50 countries as part of U.S.-led and World Health Organization delegations.

“Your life’s work embodies your dedication to the AAFP and to the specialty of family medicine,” noted Dr. Filer. “You are known as an extraordinary leader who is also glad to contribute as a team player when others take the lead, and you have had a significant impact on primary care redesign, quality improvement, and health care reform at the local, state, national, and international levels.”

Nick Turkal, MD: Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award

Nick Turkal, MD
2016 AAFP Robert Graham Family Physician Executive Award

DFMCH Clinical Adjunct Professor Nick Turkal, MD, received the Graham award for his skills as a physician executive who has contributed to excellence in the provision of high-quality health care, and who has demonstrated that family physicians can have an impact on improving the overall health of the nation.

Dr. Turkal is the president and chief executive officer of Aurora Health Care and the former associate dean for the UW-Milwaukee campus.

“This award recognizes that you are a passionate, visionary executive who has maintained your core identity as a family physician,” wrote Dr. Filer. “You are known among your colleagues as an excellent listener and communicator, a generous collaborator, and a tireless champion for innovations in health care and medical education.”

Family Medicine Interest Group: Program of Excellence

For the second year in a row, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG), led by DFMCH Clinical Assistant Professor Jacqueline Gerhart, MD, and DFMCH Associate Professor David Deci, MD, was named one of 10 Programs of Excellence nationwide.

Representatives from the DFMCH and the FMIG receive the AAFP’s Program of Excellence award. Back row, from left: SMPH student Cameron Blegen; DFMCH Office of Medical Student Education Director David Deci, MD; SMPH student Manuchehr Habibi; DFMCH Office of Medical Student Education program coordinator Joyce Jeardeau; SMPH student Kristin Magliocco. Front row, from left: SMPH students Nicole Altman, Willem Schott and Lindsey Boyke. (Photo: AAFP)

The award recognized the FMIG for its outstanding activities in generating medical student interest in family medicine.

The post Six DFMCH Faculty, FMIG Receive AAFP Awards appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.

“I worry that my food will run out before I get money to buy more.”

“My family needs clothing, diapers, car seats, back-to-school items, or other supplies.”

“I need help finding programs to help get a job or train for a job.”

At Access Community Health Centers Wingra Family Medical Center, screening statements like these are helping identify patients and families struggling with food security, employment, transportation, housing or child care—critical social needs that affect health.

Above, from left: student navigators Kara Chung, Johanna Balas, Jessie Miller, Allie Hung and Patrick O’Grady

Two-Thirds of Screened Patients Have Unmet Needs

The screening is part of a pilot collaboration between the UW-Madison Center for Patient Partnerships’ (CPP) Resource Navigator program and clinicians and staff at the Wingra clinic.

Every week, trained undergraduate student-navigators come to the clinic and screen the patients of Kirsten Rindfleisch, MD; Beth Potter, MD; and Ildi Martonffy, MD.

If a patient screens positive—that is, answers “Yes” to one or more of the social concerns listed on the screening tool—the navigators begin connecting the patient with appropriate community resources. They continue to follow up and refine plans until the patient’s needs are met.

The Resource Navigator program launched at the Wingra clinic at the end of March. In the first four months, navigators screened 395 patients, 263 (66%) of whom screened positive. As of July 15, navigators were still actively working with 151 (38%) patients.

Toward ‘Universal Screening’ of Social Needs

Dr. Rindfleisch explained that the navigators’ efforts build on individual interventions from the clinic’s social worker. “We’re trying to move toward universal screening of social needs, just like we screen for high blood pressure,” she said.

Plans are also underway to bring the navigators, the clinic social worker, nurse case managers and providers together for regular case conferences, so they can communicate as a group about patients’ needs.

The program doesn’t just benefit patients and families. Lane Hanson, MSW, who coordinates the Resource Navigator program for CPP, explained that it provides the undergraduate student-navigators, many of whom are pre-health sciences students, with valuable education on how social factors affect health in an underserved population.

“Students get to be part of team consults before medical school, which is great exposure for them,” she added. “They also learn to give feedback to providers about what’s happening with their patients.”

Dr. Rindfleisch would like to see the program serve as a foundation for a future community needs assessment. “We hope to use this data to create a picture of the holes in the safety net, and identify other resources that need to be developed in the community that can help meet our patients’ needs,” she said.

The Resource Navigator program was initially supported by the Wisconsin Partnership Program-funded initiative, Advocacy for Children — Transformational Impact Via Action and Teamwork for Engagement (ACTIVATE). Current support is provided by the David and Mary Anderson Family Foundation, with a challenge match for 2017-2019 (currently seeking matching funds from other sources).  

Published: October 2016

The post Resource Navigators Connect Wingra Patients with Community Services appeared first on UW Family Medicine & Community Health.