Grant Awarded to Healthcare Research and Education Foundation to Pilot a Model that Holds Promise in Improving the Health of Patients Suffering from Asthma
HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Healthcare Research and Education Foundation, an affiliate of the Connecticut Hospital Association (Wallingford), was awarded a $100,000 grant over 15 months to pilot a model that would reduce hospital re-admissions and emergency department visits of young children and adults who suffer from chronic, yet manageable conditions, such as asthma. The model is being developed by multiple constituencies in Connecticut, including feedback from patients and families, and will incorporate evidence-based, nationally recognized guidelines for asthma care.
A report, “Live Healthy Connecticut: A Coordinated Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Plan” (2014), shows that more kids and adults in Connecticut have asthma than the US average.
- Statewide, children, women, the elderly, the poor and urban residents are disproportionately affected by asthma, and often end up in the hospital more frequently for care and management of the disease.
- Many of these residents, Medicaid beneficiaries, also experience a higher rate of emergency department visits.
- African Americans had the highest rate of emergency department visits per thousand: 17.6 percent compared to 15 percent for Latinos and 3.4 percent for whites.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Connecticut Health Foundation on this groundbreaking statewide asthma initiative,” said Elizabeth Beaudin, RN, PhD, senior director, Nursing, Health and Workforce for the Connecticut Hospital Association. “Connecticut hospitals, in collaboration with clinical experts, care providers, community agencies, and patients and families, are committed to improving measurably the lives of people in Connecticut who suffer from asthma. This transformational work will also reduce health disparities and improve health equity related to asthma care.”
The project, to be implemented over a three-year period, aims to:
- Reduce prevalence of asthma and asthma hospital utilization in general, reduce emergency department visits by 5 percent
- Gain positive feedback from patients, families and practitioners regarding effectiveness of cultural sensitivity of the model
- Reduce disparities in asthma care and outcomes by implementing the asthma care model that becomes standard practice in health care and community systems across the state
The proposed model of care for this asthma initiative will incorporate guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service (“CLAS”) standards.
OTHER GRANTS AWARDED
- Connecticut Children’s Medical Center – Office of Community Child Health (Hartford) was awarded a $75,000 grant over one year to support the Hartford Area Care Coordination Collaborative to expand their ‘shared resource, central utility’ model to New Haven, Norwich, Stamford and Waterbury. The ‘central utility’ model promises efficiency in the delivery of appropriate health care and other services — ensuring that children and their families get coordinated care services, and managing transitions in care among providers and community agencies.
- Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (Hartford) was awarded a $100,000 grant over one year to ensure that oral health is included in the State Innovation Model, to protect Medicaid dental coverage and rates for adults, and to protect community water fluoridation.
- United Connecticut Action for Neighborhoods (Hartford) was awarded a $50,000 general operating support grant over one year to support the Caring Families Coalition’s efforts to improve the consumer experience for Medicaid members and ensure the inclusion of consumer needs and concerns to State Innovation Model planning.
PRESIDENT’S DISCRETIONARY GRANTS
- Hartford Public Access Television (Hartford) was awarded a one-year $5,000 grant to support their program, Simply Fresh Food with Chef Renee, in collaboration with Windsor Public Access and Billings Forge to produce six new episodes. The aim of the program is to address rising obesity rates facing Hartford’s residents through an innovative and entertaining program that teaches healthy cooking and eating.
- Middletown Hospital – Identifying Children and Responding Early (iCare) (Middletown) was awarded a one-year $20,000 grant to support iCare’s efforts to build upon existing community partnerships to continue its work to identify early, the unmet behavioral health needs in elementary age children who may benefit from early interventions in school, family and community; and to help sustain the Ministerial Alliance’s work with youth of color to address barriers and build trust between families and schools and families and the mental health care system.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems. Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission – to improve the health of the people of Connecticut. Over the past 15 years, CT Health has awarded grants totaling close to 55million in 45 cities and towns throughout the state.
In April 2013, CT Health announced its five-year strategic plan to transition to expand health equity as a focus. For CT Health, health equity means helping more people gain access to better care, especially people of color. Better care includes physical, mental, and oral health.
For more information about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Senior Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.724.1580, ext. 21.
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