141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

283900
Medical-legal partnership: Innovative collaboration in a new healthcare environment

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Shannon Mace Heller, JD, MPH , Health, Education & Legal assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Health, Education & Legal assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Philadelphia, PA
Daniel Atkins, JD , Health, Education and Legal assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, DE
Martha Romney, RN, MS, JD, MPH , Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Rickie O. Brawer, PhD, MPH , Office to Advance Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Shloka Joshi, JD , Health, Education & Legal assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Health, Education & Legal assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Phliadelphia, PA
Collaborative care models are rapidly emerging within our healthcare system in order to achieve the triple aim: better health, better healthcare and lower costs. The Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) model goes beyond traditional healthcare provider partnerships by integrating a legal services component to address patients' complex social and legal needs. By addressing harmful social determinants of health, MLPs are able to reduce barriers to care and improve overall well-being. In addition to providing direct legal services, MLPs transform healthcare systems and engage in systemic policy change.

Health Education and Legal Assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP) is a collaboration between Crozer-Keystone Healthy Start and Nurse Family Partnership, and Widener University School of Law serving low-income residents in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Legal and social work staff collaborate to remedy a variety of issues faced by clients including housing, public benefits, debt collection issues and domestic violence. Since its inception in 2009, HELP: MLP has resolved over 220 legal issues, conducted more than 15 trainings for health care and social work providers and has educated more than 25 students from multiple disciplines.

HELP: MLP partnered with public health faculty from Thomas Jefferson University to collect quantitative and qualitative data assessing the project's feasibility and impact on patient health, stress, and self-efficacy. Additionally, data was collected from HELP: MLP and social work staff to assess changes in advocacy capacity, knowledge and practice. Results show that HELP: MLP services have been successful in reducing client stress and increasing provider knowledge and advocacy capacity.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe how the Medical-Legal Partnership model can improve health outcomes by addressing harmful social determinants through legal advocacy. Describe the process and impact evaluation tools and strategies that can be integrated into a Medical-Legal Partnership. Describe the ways in which Medical-Legal Partnership transform healthcare practice and systemic policies.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked with HELP: MLP since its inception assisting with program planning and evaluation, legal research and administrative functions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.