PILOT PRACTICE INITIATIVE

Overall Project Goals

• Increase physician knowledge of risk factors of disparate population groups that may result in different patient-care decisions/algorithms directly related to cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
• Increase physician understanding and awareness of cultural differences and how these differences may impact adherence to best practices, and patient behavior, and working with physicians to determine successful strategies to enhance physician-patient communication through culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS).
• Identify, highlight and pilot models of successful physician collaboration with disparate populations groups related to health behavior changes in order to increase the level and effectiveness of collaboration and physician outreach to the targeted population groups.

Practice-Based Activities

The project will develop targeted practice-based initiatives at the local level in five to six primary care practices through the Sandhills Community Care Network. The effort will include working with the physicians to develop relationships and collaborations with other local organizations representing minority populations in order to address health literacy and behavior at the community level.

What Will the Selected Practices Receive?

Funding of $2,000 in June of 2007 and $1,000 in June of 2009 to help develop and implement strategies to impact health disparities in their community. The Assistance of a half-time UNC Medical Student for five weeks in both May/June of 2007 and May/June of 2009 to research their practice demographics, pull appropriate chart data, access the current status of the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services standards in your practice, and develop a plan to address a health disparities issue in your community.

The student will be shared by two practices in the same geographic region. Ongoing technical assistance from a staff member at the NC Academy of Family Physicians to help develop and implement plans to address disparities in their local community and implement the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services standards in your office. Recognition in the North Carolina Family Physician magazine.

What Is Expected from Participating Practices?

Access to information about your practice's processes that may be relevant to the CLAS standards. A willingness to assist in efforts to eliminate cultural disparities in your community and work with disparate population groups. A willingness to precept the medical student in your practice. It is a requirement of the UNC Curriculum that the medical student spend approximately 50 percent of their time in patient care oriented activities and the other 50% of their time on a project to help eliminate health disparities.

Remember, a student will be shared by two practices, so the will be in your practice two to three days a week for five weeks. A willingness to develop a community outreach project to a disparate population group included in your practice.

The Health and Wellness Trust Fund requires that we receive a plan from each practice on how funding will be utilized in your practice/community.

For more information or to volunteer as a pilot practice, please contact: Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE Director of Professional Services, NCAFP Phone: (919) 833-2110 E-Mail: ggriggs@ncafp.com