MAPPR Partners with Local High School and College Students

MAPPR Team members partnered with local high school and college students for a project entitled “Por Nuestros Ojos” (“Through Our Eyes”).  The project was based on PhotoVoice, which uses participatory photography to help underserved and marginalized communities share their experiences and document their reality. 

For this particular project, students from UNC-Charlotte were assembled with Hispanic high school students and challenged with capturing images on film that, in their view, represented issues and circumstances that either positively or negatively impacted their health and the health of their community.  The high school students were chosen from a youth-led advocacy group called “United 4 The Dream” (U4TD), which operates in collaboration with Latin American Coalition.   The Por Nuestros Ojos project was part of a larger study being conducted by MAPPR entitled “A Transdisciplinary Approach for the Evaluation of Social Determinants of Health”, which looks at cultural, environmental and other factors that contribute to the health of communities.

The research team took data collected from previous research to determine which communities seemed to be at highest risk for health-related disparities.  The youth underwent trainings before being sent into these communities with cameras.  The resulting images were then reviewed by the students, and the most representative photos were selected.  The students were asked to prepare a brief description of the image and how they felt it impacted health.  The final images and descriptions were exhibited at a PhotoVoice event at the Latin American Coalition. 

Issues cited as positively (+) or negatively (-) affecting health included:

·      Connectivity, or the lack thereof (sidewalks and dangerous crossings) (+/-)
·      Trash and lack of property maintenance (-)
·      Visible water and air pollution (-)
·      Local Women, Infant and Children offices/grocery stores/fire stations/schools (+)
·      Fast food restaurants/scam doctors (-)
·      Track/athletic courts/playgrounds (+/- depending on use and upkeep)

“Por Nuestros Ojos served to validate and supplement what some of our research had already determined,” says Claire Schuch, PhD Student at UNC-Charlotte and part of the MAPPR Research Team.  “It was also used to deepen and develop a more nuanced understanding of the communities, neighborhoods, and individuals at the heart of our research and intervention efforts.”

The project also served to give a voice to a group of traditionally unrepresented members of the Hispanic community: the youth.  Many of the participants expressed gratitude at the opportunity to participate in this project and to have their opinions be presented in such a public forum.

To read the full paper on Por Nuestros Ojos, please click HERE.

MAPPR Participates in the 2014 Practice-Based Research Network Conference

MAPPR Team members at the PBRN Conference in Bethesda, Maryland

MAPPR recently participated in the Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Conference hosted by the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) in Bethesda, Maryland.  This 2-day conference allows leaders in research to network and present their strategies, methods and results to colleagues in the medical, education and research realms.  Topics such as Prevention, Chronic Disease Medicine, Health Disparities and Quality Improvement are discussed.

MAPPR team members presented a robust mix of lectures and posters, and were part of a panel discussion.   Research topics presented included:

Lessons Learned During Year 1 of a State-Wide PBRN Collaboration on Dissemination of a Shared Decision Making Toolkit (Poster)

Hazel Tapp, PhD; Jackie Halladay, MD; Paul Bray, MA

Shared Decision Making and Its Effects on Asthma Burden in the Underserved Ambulatory Care Setting (Poster)

Jay Patel, MD, MPH; Sveta Mohanan; Hazel Tapp, PhD

A Qualitative Study of Asthma Care Across the Charlotte Metro Area (Poster)

Lauren Mowrer, BA

Integrating Virtual Care Coordination within a Safety-Net Patient Centered Medical Home:  Lessons Learned (Poster)

Andrew McWilliams; John Emmerson

The Comparative Effectiveness of Asthma Interventions within an AHRQ PBRN:  Final Results (Poster)

Michael Dulin, MD, PhD; Lindsay Kuhn; Hazel Tapp, PhD

A Community-Based Participatory Approach to Connecting a Vulnerable Population to Primary Care and Social Services (Poster)

Andrew McWilliams; Yhenneko Taylor; Claire Schuch

Patient-Centered Engagement Across the Continuum:  Asthma Shared Decision Making Inpatient Pilot (Poster)

Kelly Reeves, BSN, RN; Hazel Tapp, PhD; Andy McWilliams, MD, MPH

Powering Up:  Lessons Learned from Project Collaborations Across Multiple PBRN Networks (Panel Discussion)

Hazel Tapp, PhD; Douglas Fernald, MA; Lyle Fagnan, MD

Planning for Action:  The Integration of an Electronic Asthma Action Plan Tool into Cerner at Carolinas HealthCare System

Lindsay Kuhn, MHS, PA-C; Michael Dulin, MD, PhD; Kelly Reeves, BSN, RN

To see the full schedule of presentations at the 2014 Practice Based Research Network Conference, click HERE.  To see the most up-to-date list of research conducted by MAPPR, please visit the Publications Page of our website.

Parent Group Learns Life Saving Skills

On Thursday June 12, a parent group assembled by MAPPR met with the Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency (MEDIC) to learn first aid skills.  More than 30 Hispanic community members, both adults and youth, attended the presentation.  The class covered the importance of cardio-pulminary resuscitation (CPR) and attendees were given the opportunity to practice the techniques needed to save the lives of adult, youth and infant victims. 

“CPR skills are something everyone should learn,” says MEDIC Community Engagement Coordinator Lester Oliva.  “Those skills can be lifesaving.”

According to the American Heart Association,  88 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home – so the life you save will most likely be a loved one.  Effective CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chances of surviving. 

MEDIC offers both certification and non-certification classes to community members interested in learning these important techniques.  Classes are offered in English and in Spanish.  If you are interested in learning more about these classes, contact Lester Oliva at 704-943-6023 or by email at lestero@medic911.com.

The MAPPR parent group meets every other Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm to discuss topics related to health and wellness.  If you are interested in learning more about the parent group and/or joining, contact Brisa Hernandez at 704-304-7123 or via email at Brisa.Hernandez@carolinashealthcare.org.

Research Team Hosts Community Wellness Fairs

Beginning in March and continuing through June, Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research (MAPPR) is hosting Community Wellness Fairs in the Huntingtowne Farms neighborhood of Charlotte.  MAPPR is a Practice Based Research Network designed to study barriers to healthcare access for the underserved and vulnerable populations in Charlotte.  Headquartered at the Department of Family Medicine in Carolinas Healthcare System (CHS),  MAPPR operates under the directorship of Michael Dulin, MD, PhD.

The Community Wellness Fairs serve two purposes – to engage patients in upcoming research projects, and to educate residents of the area about their own health and the resources available to them.  The fairs fall under the Transdisciplinary Approach to Social Determinants of Health study currently being undertaken by MAPPR to determine barriers to health care and social services, and take steps to improve community access and utilization of primary care and preventive services.  

"At the community wellness fairs we have the opportunity to offer  basic health screening and counseling, oftentimes to those with limited access to care," says Associate Director of Research Andrew McWilliams, MD, MPH.  "But perhaps most importantly, we are able to help individuals access existing health and social services."

As a part of the events, local organizations set up booths where they can promote their services and introduce themselves to the community.  Thus far, more than 20 organizations have participated, including affordable housing resource Socialserve.com.

“These fairs have given Socialserve.com a valuable opportunity to spread the word locally about our housing services,” says Socialserve.com Chief of Communications Beth Leysieffer.  “By participating in these events, we were able to share information directly with Charlotte residents as well as make important connections with other members of the supportive continuum.”

In addition to the fairs, research team is working with a group of 12 parents from the neighborhood school to develop a network for them to increase access to information about health and social services and build capacity for them to share the information in their neighborhoods. Recently, CHS Medical Education Health Educator Allison Bickett presented to the parents about stress and how it relates to their physical health.

The fairs are being held the first Saturday of the month at Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School.  Interpreters are available for English/Spanish translation.  If you would like to learn more about the fairs or the parent network, please contact Brisa Hernandez at  Brisa.Hernandez@carolinashealthcare.org or call 704-304-7123. 

Fall Conferences and Presentations Keep MAPPR Busy Through Year End

(l-r) Mary Espinosa, Aidan Smith and Claire Schuch at the SouthEastern Division of the Association of American Geographers meeting

Fall 2013 proved to be a busy season for the team at Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research.  With numerous conferences and annual meetings happening during this time of the year, it was the perfect opportunity to present research findings to the health care and research community. 

Three presentations were given at November's North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting in Ottawa, Ontario:

        

      Impact of Shared-decision Making On Disease-specific Quality of Life for Asthma     Patients

      Tapp, H; Taylor, Y; Alkhazraji, T; Kuhn, L; Mowrer, L;  Reeves, K; Dulin, M

      Improved Outcomes for Patients With Asthma: Preliminary Results of a Shared Decision Making  Intervention

      Kuhn, L; Tapp, H; Dulin, M; Alkhazraji, T; Taylor, Y; Reeves, K; Steuerwald, M; Mowrer, L

      Community-based Approach to Improving Primary Care Access In a Vulnerable Hispanic Neighborhood: Results From an Initial Cohort

      McWilliams, A; Urquieta de Hernandez, B; Smith, H; Sorensen, J; Coffman, M; Simmons, L; Tapp, H; Ludden, T; Taylor, Y; Dulin, M

      A month earlier, Brisa Hernandez and Maren Coffman presented Community-Driven Health Interventions - Designing a Neighborhood Health and Wellness Fair to Decrease Health Disparities at the Communities Joined in Action Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC.

  The SouthEastern Division of the Association of American Geographers met in Roanoke, Virginia and were treated to Engaging Students in Transdisciplinary Health Care Research by Mary Espinosa, Aidan Smith, Claire Schuch and Brisa Urquieta de Hernandez.  

"Conferences like this are a great opportunity to learn about the wide variety of research topics that georgraphers are investigating," says presenter and MAPPR Research Assistant Mary Espinosa.  "It's also great to be able to present the work that we do here and to teach others about the importance of our work and its impact on students and their future."

You can find research posters and presentations as they become available on our MAPPR website. 
     
    
    

Workshop Explores the Immigrant Experience in Accessing Healthcare

Owen Furuseth, PhD speaks to the crowd at "The Immigrant Experience in Accessing Care"

On November 5^th, members of Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research joined other community leaders for an all-day discussion entitled “The Immigrant Experience in Accessing Care”.  Dr. Michael Dulin and Dr. Owen Furuseth, along with attorneys Madison Hardee (Legal Services of Southern Piedmont) and Hans Christian Linnartz (NC Board Certified Immigration Specialist), and caretakers Tamara Withers-Thompson and Martha Brinsko (Charlotte Community Health Clinic) spoke to a near-capacity crowd at the Charlotte Area Health Education Center. 

The workshop illuminated aspects of the immigrant experience here in North Carolina, specifically as those in our area pursue health care and other services.  Immigrants coming to North Carolina face myriad challenges, including documentation and transportation.  Many times, their expectations of care from their health care provider do not align with the objectives set by the providers themselves.  Testimonials from immigrants who have experienced these challenges first-hand elucidated the need for increased access to care, as well as education on both sides to improve understanding.

The day concluded with an enlightening presentation on how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect the immigrant population – those with health insurance and those without. 

“I was surprised to learn that many healthcare professionals have limited understanding of immigrants, immigration law, and how the ACA will affect this population,” says Carolinas HealthCare System Health Careers and Diversity Education Assistant Director Michelle Boyd.  “This was a great experience and I believe those that attended feel better prepared to care for their patients.  It was a good day.”

The workshop was such a success that a follow up discussion is being planned for Spring of 2014. 

Workshop at Charlotte Area Health Education Center Delves into the Immigrant Experience in Accessing Care

In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and across the state of North Carolina immigrant-serving organizations, health care and social services, face challenges when treating both foreign-born and native-born communities. As such, there is a need for a better understanding of immigrants, immigration laws and the impact of The Affordable Care Act on both insured and uninsured immigrants. During this one-day workshop, attendees will discuss critical issues that arise as immigrants attempt to gain access to care and services. They will hear from experts as they explain the changes immigration has brought to the state of North Carolina, specifically Mecklenburg County, the experience of providing care and services to the immigrant community, and the immigration laws and documents that affect access to care and services, And finally, they will hear testimonials from immigrants that have navigated the NC healthcare system and the challenges they have faced.

• Date(s): Nov 5, 2013
• Time: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
• Location: Charlotte AHEC

 

$75.00 Registration fee (before October 22, 2013). Breakfast and lunch included.

 To register click HERE.

 

 

 

OBJECTIVES

*Describe the immigrant experience in North Carolina.
*Describe the expectations of care from both the provider and patient perspectives.
*Discuss immigration, how it operates, the categories of immigration status, common documents used by immigrants and public benefits for immigrants.
*Explain how the Affordable Care Act will impact immigrants.

TARGET AUDIENCE

 

Any health and social service provider. Includes but not limited to: case management employees, community clinic employees, nurses, physicians, public health professionals, and social workers.

FACULTY

Martha M. Brinsko, MSN, ANP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Charlotte Community Health Clinic

Mike Dulin, MD
Chair and Medical Officer for Analytics and Outcomes Research
Department of Family Medicine and Dickson Advanced Analytics Group
Carolinas Healthcare System

Madison Hardee, JD
Attorney, Family Support and Health Care Program
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont

Heather Smith, PhD
Professor, Geography and Director, Urban Studies Minor
Faculty Research Associate,
UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
UNC Charlotte

Owen Furuseth, PhD
Associate Provost for Metropolitan Studies and Extended Academic Programs
Professor of Geography
Department of Geography and Earth Science
UNC Charlotte

Hans Christian Linnartz, JD
NC Board Certified Immigration Specialist
Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke Law School

Tamara Withers-Thompson, RN
Clinic Manager
Charlotte Community Health Clinic

 

In partnership with: Charlotte Community Health Clinic, Department of Family Medicine, Carolinas Healthcare System, Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary Care Research, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, UNC Charlotte.

 

Contact for more information: Gabriela Staley, BS, 704-512-6596