As the First Year Draws to a Close, Impact Challenge Teams Report Game-Changing Results
It’s been a little over a year since VNS Health held its Impact Challenge, where five final round teams presented ideas for reducing heath disparities in our communities. So how are the initiatives doing? All five teams have reported game-changing progress this past year, so let’s dive in!
16 New Nurse Residents – and Counting!
Team Nurse Residency, whose goal is to expand VNS Health’s Nurse Residency program to serve health needs in underserved areas, launched its fifth cohort with nine new residents in October, including two based in the Bronx. The program has also recruited seven new hires for the April 2023 cohort. This makes a total of 16 new nurse residents recruited since the project launched—including three nurse residents for the Bronx, one of our areas of focus. To learn more, click here.
A Medical Nutrition Therapy Pilot for the Bedbound Set to Launch
Team Medical Nutrition Therapy, whose goal is to provide medical nutrition therapy to bedbound New Yorkers, partnered with VNS Health’s Care Management Organization (CMO), to launch a Medical Nutrition Therapy pilot program. They’re utilizing a two-pronged strategy: addressing people’s clinical needs for medical nutrition therapy; and addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact their quality of life. To learn more, click here.
Internal Referrals up 60% for At-Risk Seniors in Need of Behavioral Health
Team Behavioral Health, whose goal is to connect low-income seniors with outpatient mental health treatment, has been highlighting and providing Behavioral Health services referral information to teams across VNS Health. The results have been outstanding. Internal referrals to all Behavioral Health services have increased 60% in the third quarter of 2022. In addition, community outreach is up more than 250% since 2021. To learn more, click here.
Connecting Harlem and Bronx Residents to VNS Health’s Services
In third quarter 2022, Team Connect2Well, whose goal is to use community engagement to help New Yorkers access VNS Health services and health plans, has held 16 health education forums, facilitated 10 health fairs, and participated in 7 food pantry events. To learn more, click here.
Findings Published and Grant Proposal in Process for Caregiver Support Tool
Team Caregiver Support, whose goal is to use the DECLARE (Dementia Caregiver’s Link to Assistance and Resources) Tool to support family caregivers of patients with dementia, recently published its research findings in The Gerontologist. After applying for a grant from the National Institute on Aging, the team learned they were recommended for funding. To learn more, click here.
We will check back in on the Impact Challenge initiatives in the next few months to track all the exciting progress being made.
