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COVID-19 mitigation for high-risk populations in Springfield Massachusetts USA: a health systems approach
- Source :
- International Journal for Equity in Health, International Journal for Equity in Health, Vol 20, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- BioMed Central, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background Numerous reports have demonstrated the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 has had on vulnerable populations. Our purpose is to describe our health care system’s response to this impact. Methods We convened a Workgroup with the goal to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the most medically vulnerable people in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, particularly those with significant social needs. We did this through (1) identifying vulnerable patients in high-need geographic areas, (2) developing and implementing a needs assessment/outreach tool tailored to meet cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds, (3) surveying pharmacies for access to medication delivery, (4) gathering information about sources of food delivery, groceries and/or prepared food, (5) gathering information about means of travel, and (6) assessing need for testing. We then combined these six elements into a patient-oriented branch and a community outreach/engagement branch. Conclusions Our highly intentional and methodical approach to patient and community outreach with a strong geographic component has led to fruitful efforts in COVID-19 mitigation. Our patient-level outreach engages our health centers’ clinical teams, particularly community health workers, and is providing the direct benefit of material and service resources for our at-risk patients and their families. Our community efforts leveraged existing relationships and created new partnerships that continue to inform us—healthcare entities, healthcare employees, and clinical teams—so that we can grow and learn in order to authentically build trust and engagement.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Systems Analysis
Populations, vulnerable
Health care
medicine
Humans
Needs Assessment, Healthcare
Workgroup
Health policy
Social policy
Community Health Workers
business.industry
SARS-CoV-2
Health Policy
Public health
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health services research
Community Outreach
COVID-19
Public relations
Outreach
Risk factors
Needs assessment
Commentary
Inequalities, health care
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
business
COVID 19
Delivery of Health Care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14759276
- Volume :
- 20
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal for Equity in Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....63ced84c48cbb156ce11af88b98ed0a6