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Incorporating Public Health Students into a Care Management Team to Help Ameliorate Social Determinants of Health
The mission of Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare) is to provide high quality, accessible and culturally sensitive health care and related services in an environment of care and mutual respect. ChapCare clinics provide services to insured and uninsured residents of the San Gabriel Valley, but any resident of Los Angeles County is eligible for services. ChapCare offers a wide variety of health related services to their patient population, including medical, dental, radiology, eye exams, behavioral health and a full pharmacy for patients who need prescriptions filled. The service area is predominately Latino and African American, with a growing Asian American community.
The year-old partnership spearheaded by Occidental College’s Community Health Engagement (CHE) program and ChapCare seeks to address the social determinants of health. Using a community health worker/
promotora model, an internship program was developed to meet patients’ needs by providing greater access to information and resources that contribute to improving health-related quality of life such as access to healthier foods or physical activity. Interns work with patients one-on-one to help research and link them to social service resources necessary to maintain their health and well-being.
The first year of the program has been positively received by all. The clinical staff has been responsive and supportive providing focused referrals to students as needs arise. The patients receive private one-on-one sessions with students and
promotora, allowing for a thorough assessment and care plan. Through this partnership, ChapCare seeks to develop a lasting model to better identify and address our patients’ social determinants of health.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related educationLearning Objectives:
Identify three social determinants of health common to ChapCare patients.
Describe limitations in the community clinic structure where social determinants of health are not being addressed.
Keyword(s): Community Health Centers, Community Health Planning
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified for this program because I am the Director of Nursing and site manager of the clinic. ChapCare has directed me to be the project supervisor and liaison between all participants both within and without the organization.
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.