Success Stories
Partners 4 Health improves care and reduces costs for high-risk patients
Rickey Wright, a community health worker for P4H
meets with Frank James.
At his home on the east side of Detroit, Frank James is meeting with Rickey Wright, a community health worker with Partners 4 Health. Frank needs a kidney transplant. He also has diabetes, high blood pressure and other health challenges. “I felt like there was a ticking time-bomb in my body when the doctors told me my kidneys were bad,” 54 year old Frank tells Rickey. “I started to cry and asked them if I was going to die. I felt hopeless because I had no knowledge about what to do next.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Rickey replies, “to take some of the stress off of you and support your plan to get better.”
Frank James listens as P4H community health worker Rickey Wright explains how Frank can improve his health.
Rickey proceeds to advise Frank about bringing his blood pressure down, improving his diet and losing weight. Rickey recommends a food pantry that Frank can use when he is short of money near the end of the month. Rickey also inquires about Frank’s next primary care appointment, which Rickey will attend to help coordinate care.
“That’s why I’m here,” Rickey replies, “to take some of the stress off of you and support your plan to get better.”
Frank James listens as P4H community health worker Rickey Wright explains how Frank can improve his health.
Rickey proceeds to advise Frank about bringing his blood pressure down, improving his diet and losing weight. Rickey recommends a food pantry that Frank can use when he is short of money near the end of the month. Rickey also inquires about Frank’s next primary care appointment, which Rickey will attend to help coordinate care.
Frank
rank is grateful for Rickey’s involvement and that of the Partners 4 Health nurse who had come to his home, comprehensively assessed his needs and situation, reviewed and reconciled his medications, and helped him set goals for healthier living.
“You guys have been nothing but helpful,” Frank says to Rickey.
It’s been a year since Partners 4 Health began its outreach and holistic work with high-risk patients, and the initial results are promising in improving the health and reducing the healthcare costs for these vulnerable individuals.
“When someone allows you into the place they live, their intimate and personal space, it is privilege and a unique opportunity to build trust and understand them as a whole person, their strengths and challenges, and to assist them in achieving a better and healthier future,” says Linda Little, NSO President & CEO.
P4H serves patients in the tri-county area. Individuals identified as high-risk because they have multiple chronic conditions, often combined with behavioral health issues and social determinants of health challenges to deliver “community-based” complex care management. P4H data indicates that the referred patients have been diagnosed with an average of four chronic illnesses.
P4H has reviewed the data from the first 100 patients in the program. At the start and end of their participation, patients fill out a detailed, industry-standard survey called the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). The P4H participants increased their PAM scores by an average of four points. Each point increase is significant because it is scientifically shown to correlate with an increase in “patient activation,” an increase in proper medication use, and a decrease in ER visits and hospitalization. Patient activation refers to the knowledge, skills and confidence the individual has in managing their own health and care.
It is evident that P4H is making a real difference in the lives of the patients it is serving.
“You guys have been nothing but helpful,” Frank says to Rickey.
It’s been a year since Partners 4 Health began its outreach and holistic work with high-risk patients, and the initial results are promising in improving the health and reducing the healthcare costs for these vulnerable individuals.
“When someone allows you into the place they live, their intimate and personal space, it is privilege and a unique opportunity to build trust and understand them as a whole person, their strengths and challenges, and to assist them in achieving a better and healthier future,” says Linda Little, NSO President & CEO.
P4H serves patients in the tri-county area. Individuals identified as high-risk because they have multiple chronic conditions, often combined with behavioral health issues and social determinants of health challenges to deliver “community-based” complex care management. P4H data indicates that the referred patients have been diagnosed with an average of four chronic illnesses.
P4H has reviewed the data from the first 100 patients in the program. At the start and end of their participation, patients fill out a detailed, industry-standard survey called the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). The P4H participants increased their PAM scores by an average of four points. Each point increase is significant because it is scientifically shown to correlate with an increase in “patient activation,” an increase in proper medication use, and a decrease in ER visits and hospitalization. Patient activation refers to the knowledge, skills and confidence the individual has in managing their own health and care.
It is evident that P4H is making a real difference in the lives of the patients it is serving.
Rickey Wright
P4H is contracted to interact with each patient regularly for 13 weeks. The average patient participates in the program for 110 days. Currently, about 60% of the patients reside in Detroit. There are staff positions for three community health workers, and each will eventually carry a caseload of about 30 patients.
Community health worker Rickey Wright is acutely attuned to the health challenges of the patients he is seeing. Rickey is a veteran who served as an emergency room physician in the Air Force. After his service, Rickey had a successful medical practice before suffering a devastating illness and then near-fatal accident. Rickey endured a bout of homelessness until he moved into Southwest Solutions’ Piquette Square for Veterans, where he still resides.
“Working for Partners 4 Health is an extraordinary opportunity for me to resume my work in healthcare in a very human and patient-centered way,” Rickey says. “Undoubtedly, it will make me a better doctor when I’m re-licensed and am able to practice again.”
Community health worker Rickey Wright is acutely attuned to the health challenges of the patients he is seeing. Rickey is a veteran who served as an emergency room physician in the Air Force. After his service, Rickey had a successful medical practice before suffering a devastating illness and then near-fatal accident. Rickey endured a bout of homelessness until he moved into Southwest Solutions’ Piquette Square for Veterans, where he still resides.
“Working for Partners 4 Health is an extraordinary opportunity for me to resume my work in healthcare in a very human and patient-centered way,” Rickey says. “Undoubtedly, it will make me a better doctor when I’m re-licensed and am able to practice again.”
