UPDATES
Guiding Patients to Health
Father of Osteopathic Medicine Honored
The inaugural group of patient advocates (back row, left to right): Laura Hackenberger, Laura Deschamps, Devin McKelvey, Justin Ross and Jenna Landers; (front row, left to right): Alexa Namba, Laurel Garber and Nicole Anand.
Dr. Still
Eight second-year Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine DO students have been chosen to participate in the newly created Student Medical Advocate Program that launched this fall. The students work alongside other healthcare professionals at Lankenau Medical Center’s Clinical Care Center to help guide the care of patients who have been deemed to be at increased risk for poor health outcomes. These patient-centered medical home teams, created to support Lankenau’s efforts in population health management, include an attending physician, nurse/case manager, social worker and nutritionist. Patients are assigned by the team to a pair of student advocates. The students’ initial contact is usually an introductory phone call during which they discover the non-medical problems the patients are facing. The advocates help provide such solutions as transportation to medical visits, food coupons to local pantries, prescription assistance and help on a job search. Medical and psychosocial difficulties are brought to the team during weekly meetings. The team tries to schedule follow-up appointments when everyone, including the patient, can attend. “Follow-up is key,” stresses student advocate Laura Hackenberger. The program was proposed to Kenneth J. Veit, DO ’76, MBA, provost, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean, by Barry Mann, MD, chief academic officer, Main Line Health, Lankenau Medical Center. Similar collaborative programs have gained significant momentum in recent years among health professionals, advocates and policy-makers as a model that could potentially improve the quality of care and reduce healthcare-related expenditures. Equally important is the fact that this exposure will help develop future leaders to advocate for health equity and a stronger health system for vulnerable populations. “Lankenau chose PCOM for this partnership because of the long-standing relationship between our two institutions,” says Dr. Veit. “This extension of our partnership enables our students to see a side of medicine that they may not experience beyond the office or hospital.” Student participation in the program will follow the school calendar. As the students enter their third year in September 2014, they will have the option of continuing their involvement as mentors for the new participants.
Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, physician, surgeon and father of osteopathic medicine, has been selected for induction into the Missouri State Capitol’s Hall of Famous Missourians in Jefferson City. The hall is a collection of bronze busts that generally has honored people chosen by the House Speaker, but this year House Speaker Tim Jones opened the process to the people of Missouri. Dr. Still, the founder of American Osteopathy, received the most support in a public nominating and voting process for this honor. He came in with nearly 38 percent of more than 34,000 votes.
DIGEST 2013-2014
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