Journal of general internal medicine
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People with communication disabilities (CDs), which includes disabilities in speech, language, voice and/or hearing, experience health and healthcare disparities. A barrier to accessing high-quality, equitable care is the lack of effective communication between patients and their providers. ⋯ For patients with CDs, it is critical to acknowledge and document the CD and individualize communication strategies during healthcare visits to facilitate communication. Studies are needed to evaluate whether improved communication strategy usage leads to improved health outcomes for this population.
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Experts estimate virtual urgent care programs could replace approximately 20% of current emergency department visits. In the absence of widespread quality guidance to programs or quality reporting from these programs, little is known about the state of virtual urgent care quality monitoring initiatives. ⋯ We identified variation in quality measurement use and content by virtual urgent care programs. With the rapid growth in this approach to care delivery, more work is needed to identify optimal quality metrics. A standardized approach to quality measurement will be key to identifying variation in care and help focus quality improvement by virtual urgent care programs.
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Social risk factors, such as food insecurity and financial needs, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, health conditions that are highly prevalent in rural populations. A better understanding of rural Veterans' experiences with social risk factors can inform expansion of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) efforts to address social needs. ⋯ VHA interventions should include active dissemination of information on social needs resources and navigation support to help Veterans access resources. Community-based organizations (e.g., Veteran Service Organizations) could be key partners in the design and implementation of future social need interventions.
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While student-run free clinics (SRFCs) play an important role in care for underserved populations, few mechanisms exist to promote collaboration among regional SRFCs. ⋯ To our knowledge, CFCC is the first student-led organization to promote sustained collaboration across SRFCs in a metropolitan area.