The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40640

Rachel H. Ruby, MSN, MPH¹, Andrew D. Day², and Thomas D. MacKenzie, MD, MSPH¹. (1) Denver Health and Hospital Authority, 501 28th Street, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 436-4637, rruby@dhha.org, (2) University of North Carolina, School of Public Health, C.B Box 7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Preventive health screening services are currently underutilized in the United States and could potentially reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer, heart disease, pneumonia and influenza. This presentation describes the development and implementation of an adult health promotion/preventive medicine clinic in an urban community health center. This clinic was developed by nurse practitioners to improve adherence to age appropriate screenings following the U.S Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and to assist patients in identifying lifestyle changes that promote health. Patients identified at risk for not receiving preventive medicine screening are those who only access the clinic for episodic care with no identified primary care provider and patients with multiple complex medical problems that need to be addressed at each routine visit. Referrals to the clinic come from primary care providers in the internal medicine department. Quality improvement data are collected at each of three internal medicine sites by chart review on a quarterly basis. Indicators include blood pressure, pap smears (in past three years), mammogram, smoking status, and smoking cessation counseling. In addition, patients 66 years and older are screened for pneumovax and flu vaccination, and diabetic patients are screened for lipid levels, hemoglobin A1C, proteinurea, and annual foot and eye exams. This poster describes the development of the clinic and presents the quality improvement data from before and after implementation as well as a methodology for future evaluation. Additionally, this poster will present the barriers to implementation including philosophical concerns in instituting a preventive medicine clinic.

Learning Objectives:

• List age appropriate screening recommendations for the U.S. Preventive Services Tast Force.
• Recognize areas for improvment on the delivery of preventive services.
• Identify national quality improvement indicators that may be used as clinic goals.
• Articulate important areas of education that empower patients to achieve lifestyle changes.

Keywords: Clinical Prevention Services, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.