Patient-centeredness

Obstetrics/gynecology clinics offered electronic medical record–facilitated education, counseling, and support from a lactation consultant to low-income minority women, leading to a threefold increase in breastfeeding rates.

Daily automated text messages combined with nurse followup improved self-management behaviors among patients with diabetes, leading to significant improvements in glycemic control, fewer doctor visits, lower costs, and high patient satisfaction.

Funded by and receiving referrals from the various public systems serving at-risk youth, Wraparound Milwaukee pays for and supports the provision of coordinated mental health and support services to children and adolescents with serious emotional and mental health needs, leading to less institutionalization and recidivism, lower costs, increased school attendance, better functioning at home and in school, and high satisfaction.

Community health workers embedded in clinical teams in medical offices and hospitals support low-income patients in setting and achieving health-related goals and accessing needed medical and community-based services, leading to better communication and access to postdischarge primary care, increased patient activation, fewer readmissions and depression-related symptoms, and positive feedback from patients.

The State of Maryland provides financial and technical support to five communities designated through a competitive bidding process as health enterprise zones, leading to an expansion of primary care capacity in these areas.

Community health workers provided culturally tailored workshops and one-on-one counseling and support to Filipino Americans at high risk of cardiovascular disease, leading to greater adherence to medication regimens, better attendance at scheduled appointments, improved blood pressure control, and lower body mass index.

California legislation enhances access to affordable care by limiting the amount hospitals can collect from low- and moderate-income patients who are uninsured or lack adequate coverage and hence face high out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Patients receive a notepad with sample questions and informational prompts intended to facilitate communication with physicians, leading to more notetaking by patients and a greater likelihood of having their questions answered by physicians.

A mobile clinic provides screening, education, coaching, and health navigation services to residents of four underserved communities, leading to the identification of many previously undetected chronic conditions, better blood pressure control, and a substantial return on investment.

A community cancer coalition employs navigators who work with community health centers in rural areas to identify those in need of colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy and facilitate access to such screening, leading to more referrals and screenings and to more cancers and precancerous polyps being detected and treated.