Working with Vulnerable Populations: A Model for Collaborative Partnerships

Aduddell, Kathie

Sunday, 30 October 2011: 11:40 AM

Kathie Aduddell, EdD, MSN, RN
WellStar College of Health & Human Service/ School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Donna Chambers, MS, APRN, FNP-C
School of Nursing and KSU Community Clinic, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the collaborative strategies utilized in mobilizing communities to address health disparities.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to examine the major health outcomes for vulnerable populations when implementing a collaborative partnership model.

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss a grant funded project that utilized strategic collaborative partnerships in mobilizing a community to address health disparities and to assist the state in achieving a major health equity initiative. The three major objectives of the project that were linked to this health equity initiative included: 1) Mobilize the community through development of a networking advisory task force to address the health disparities in the community and bring collaborative partners together for a common goal; 2) Improve the capacity to address health disparities in the community by expanding the infrastructure of a barrier-free community clinic; and, 3) Address access to health care for homeless or other disadvantaged individuals and families by increasing the hours of operation and types of services with a particular emphasis to decrease geographic barriers and lower cultural and linguistic barriers. Based on the needs in this community the project primarily focused on improving the infrastructure of a barrier-free clinic using technology and a clinic remodel as well as increasing services with particular emphasis to improve the health status to the homeless and disadvantaged populations. As a result of the use of an innovative collaborative partnership model, major outcomes included a 50% increase in clinic hours of operations and a 100% increase in number of clients served, with a specific focus on screening and prevention/promotion activities and education. The clinic also documented a significant number of those clients had changes in health outcomes during the project timeframe such as decreases in Hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure, and weight.

See more of: Strategic Partnerships for Improving Health Care
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions