A model academic-public health partnership: Impacting environmental and chronic illness service outcomes and public policy

The purpose of this abstract is to vividly present a replicable case study on the effectiveness of an academic-community health nursing partnership model, focusing on state level public health environmental and chronic illness policy and political strategies. Background: The partnership, Nurses in Action (NIA), was formed in 2000 between the University of Delaware's, School of Nursing senior community health clinical program and multiple public and non-profit agencies. In Delaware, over 20% of the public health nursing workforce is projected to retire within the next 5 years. Environmental health and chronic illness contributes 10 million in annual health care costs. The methods used in this case study evaluation design ('00 -‘08) included the NIA program with a convenience sample of high risk and chronically ill clients statewide (n = 305) for a series of clinical visits and education interventions. Student nurses and community health nurses (N=55) share baseline training to educate and collect data using a variety of content validated tools for environmental data (i.e. radon testing) and chronic illnesses (i.e. lab results, dietary and activity logs). In turn, students provide education and referral services, and are involved with state public policymaking. Results support the programmatic and political value of NIA. Student Nurses performed screenings and education visits valued at over (>$750,000). Clients reported a 33% increase in self-care and a decrease below the national average for emergent hospital readmissions for chronic illness care. In turn, state public health programs and laws were changed as a result of the NIA, nurse principal investigator (PI) and public health staff. The PI, who was elected in 2002 as a DE State Representative and State Senator in 2008, introduced various public health workforce and environmental/occupational health laws. Due to the political strategies of nurses and students, the expansion of chronic diseases services and occupational health programs occurred. A plan is being formulated to expand the public health nursing workforce. Conclusions and lessons for state level health policy, including public health nursing and nursing academia are shared, and a repertoire of tools for public health policy and politics are shared.