Following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a surge of psychiatric patients hit NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. These patients presented with an increase in overall anger and mental destabilization, and inpatient units experienced a burst in physically aggressive, assaultive, and destructive behaviors. Attendees learned how this essential hospital expanded mental health services—both inpatient and via telehealth—and revamped its infrastructure for violence prevention and safety in the psychiatric setting, all while dealing with an unprecedented public health emergency. Presenters also discussed how to create a data collection and analysis system to examine patient aggression and workplace violence.

Presenter(s):
Renuka Ananthamoorthy, MD
Chief of Behavioral Health Services
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

Christina Hutchins, PsyD
Clinical Director of Inpatient Services
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

Jennifer Morrison-Diallo, PhD
Director of Mental Health Services
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event. Trauma can occur at any life stage and can be experienced physically, emotionally, psychologically, and across generations. The impact of trauma is far-reaching and often linked with chronic health and social problems. Experiencing trauma, especially during childhood, significantly increases the risk of heart and lung disease, depression, and substance misuse. Attendees learned how one essential hospital, in San Antonio, integrated trauma-informed approaches into policies, practices, and physical environments while actively reducing re-traumatization to provide compassionate, person-centered care.

Presenter(s):
Sarah Sebton, MPA, MPH
Director of Trauma-Informed Care
University Health

Vaccine hesitancy might be the biggest obstacle to widespread uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, the pandemic has exposed longstanding racial inequities that could further exacerbate vaccine acceptance. Findings suggest a culturally tailored approach is needed to achieve sufficient vaccine uptake. Attendees learned how association member Cambridge Health Alliance used data-driven collaborative engagement and strategic partnerships to improve vaccine access and confidence in its community.

Presenter(s):
Vanessa Doleyres-Nazaire, MPH
Director of Population Health and Contract Quality Performance
Cambridge Health Alliance

LouAnn Bruno-Murtha, DO
Medical Director
Division Chief, Infectious Disease
Cambridge Health Alliance

Attendees learned how Harris Health System, an essential hospital in Houston, uses an automated patient medication assistance program in the electronic health record to expand access to pharmaceutical-sponsored medications for its indigent population. Session attendees will learn how to maximize medication access for all indigent patients that qualify for patient assistance programs and how an automated program can help improve medication compliance.

Presenter(s):
Shahana Quadri, PharmD, MS
Pharmacy Operations Manager
Harris Health System

Maternal health and birth outcomes for people of color are worsening—in particular, adverse maternal outcomes, such as preterm birth, disproportionately affect Black people. In 2020, association member St. Josephs Health, in New Jersey, set out to understand root causes of these disparities and identify how to advance equity in maternal health. This session highlighted innovative research techniques and tools to help health care workers learn from and empathize with patients, as well as restructure power dynamics to elevate patients’ voices to develop systemic change.

Presenter(s):
Jerome Wang
Innovation Strategist
St. Joseph’s Health

Rober Kierce, MD
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
St. Joseph’s Health