University of New England

CHPPR News

Mar. 2008 - Team from UNE's medical school travels to China Medical University 

Mar. 2008 - CHPPR evaluates rural chronic care improvement project 

Mar. 2008 - CHPPR presents at the Association for Community Health Improvement’s annual conference 

Dec. 2007 - CHPPR Evaluation Finds NAMI Maine’s CIT Expansion Program Successful

Nov. 2007 - CHPPR to Speak at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting

Sep. 2007 - CHPPR to write COPD White Paper for The American Lung Association of Maine

Aug. 2007 - CHPPR Welcomes Nancy Brossoie to the Center

Aug. 2007 - Changes at the Health Literacy Center

Aug. 2007 - CHPPR to Assess Health Insurance Needs of PA Residents

July 2007 - CHPPR to conduct Health Assessment of Middlesex CT Area

Team from UNE's medical school travels to China Medical University to discuss collaboration
A team of three faculty members and administrators from the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine traveled to Shenyang, China, March 22-27, 2008 to meet with officials from China Medical University to discuss collaborations between the two universities.

Jacquelyn Cawley, D.O., interim dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ron Deprez, Ph.D., M.P.H., executive director of The Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research and India Broyles, Ed.D., associate professor, College of Osteopathic Medicine, hope to strengthen UNE's international alliances through the visit.

This meeting comes as a follow-up to meetings held at UNE in 2005 with a number of Asian medical schools.

China Medical University has been charged by the Chinese Government to oversee the revitalization of the Barefoot Doctor Program. During the Shenyang visit the UNECOM team will share medical education, quality improvement and research in primary care.

Student and faculty exchange opportunities, education opportunities, and how UNECOM might assist China Medical University in the implementation of barefoot doctors program will be explored. There will be a special focus on education and training in the care of patients with chronic health conditions.

The philosophy of Barefoot Doctor Program is similar in many ways to principles of osteopathic medicine.  It views the body as a whole integral unit.

CHPPR evaluates rural chronic care improvement project
CHPPR recently completed an evaluation for a Blue Hill Multiple Condition Chronic Care Improvement Project (MCCIP), a two-year quality improvement project funded by the Physicians’ Foundation for Health Systems Excellence.

The objectives of the MCCIP were twofold: (1) implement evidence-based practice improvement through a new consensus-driven process and (2) improve the integration of patient care between providers and with community services.

CHPPR  has partnered with Blue Hill Memorial Hospital (BHMH) on several different projects over the past 15 years. The MCCIP grew out of a chronic care improvement plan CHPPR completed for the Blue Hill region in 2004. That study provided information on trends in chronic disease prevalence, use of evidence-based practices, gaps in services, and the lack of linkages between primary care providers and community-based services.

To address several of the issues identified in the 2004 plan, CHPPR partnered with BHMH to design and implement the MCCIP at Peninsula Primary Care, a four-office primary care practice affiliated with BHMH. The project addressed care for patients with one or more chronic conditions, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, depression, obesity and diabetes.

This project demonstrated:

• The effectiveness of the consensus model in guiding decisions on the adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices in the care of patients with chronic medical conditions.
• Significant improvements in the use of evidence-based guidelines to treat patients with chronic health conditions.
• Successful use of paper-based flow sheets providing essential reminders to treat patients according to accepted guidelines.
• Significant improvements in health outcomes for patients with hyperlipidemia and/or diabetes.
• Successful development and deployment of a community web portal designed to improve linkages between community services and medical providers and give patients access to needed information to better understand, prevent and manage chronic health conditions. 

The full report can be accessed here

CHPPR presents at the Association for Community Health Improvement’s annual conference: Spring Training for Health Champions in Atlanta, Georgia, March 5-7
Dr. Ronald R Deprez, Executive Director, UNE Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR), Jean Mellett of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS), and Sue Peters of the CHAMP program of New London CT presented at the Association for Community Health Improvement’s annual conference: Spring Training for Health Champions in Atlanta, Georgia, March 5-7.  Dr. Deprez led off with a presentation of the methods used to successfully conduct and follow-up on community health needs assessments (CHNA). The presentation was based on 17 years of experience conducting dozens of CHNAs in communities from Maine to Alaska. Ms. Mellett and Ms. Peters spoke on follow-up strategies and actions taken by their respective communities following two recent assessments completed by CHPPR, one in rural Maine and the other in an urban county in Connecticut.

Several components were covered in this session that are key to CHPPR’s unique assessment process including the use of rapid assessment tools and indicators that help a) identify priority health service needs in populations, b) assess the current delivery system and programs, c) determine capacity for best practice improvements, d) evaluate the quality of prevention, detection and management services for chronic health conditions and, e) determining barriers and strategies to moving forward collaboratively. 

During his presentation the audience had an opportunity to:

1. Understand prerequisites, methods, data and process to conduct a successful CHNA;
2. Gain an understanding of approaches to collaborative follow-up to CHNAs; and
3. Build expertise on best practice programs addressing access and chronic care needs of populations.

CHPPR Evaluation Finds NAMI Maine’s CIT Expansion Program Successful
On December 21, 2007 UNE’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) released its evaluation of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine Chapter’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Program for Correctional Officers. CHPPR found that officers participating in the CIT training program at eight county jails throughout Maine broadened their understanding of mental illness and substance abuse issues. They also gained confidence in their ability to recognize behaviors caused by mental illness and defuse potentially difficult situations.

The CIT model is a nationally recognized diversion program for preventing unnecessary incarceration or institutionalization of people with mental illness. It has been shown to improve health outcomes and help prevent the exacerbation of psychiatric emergencies with suspects in encounters with police. NAMI Maine was one of the first organizations in the US to implement the CIT model in correctional settings. NAMI provided training to correctional officers in how to identify mental health problems in inmates, techniques for intervention in psychiatric emergencies and how to access local resources for treatment. Correctional officers from Kennebec, Cumberland, Knox/Waldo, Somerset, Franklin, Washington, and Lincoln/Sagadahoc Counties were among those trained.

CHPPR’s evaluation provides evidence that CIT can be effective in correctional settings, although some organizations faced difficulties in documenting and reporting CIT incident outcomes in jails despite policies and procedures in place.

Approximately one quarter of Maine inmates suffer from mental illness, yet corrections officers have not traditionally received the training necessary to identify mental illness in inmates and assist them in getting treatment. The CHPPR evaluation concludes that CIT an essential training program for correctional officers. Sustaining the program without dedicated funds and the support of agency leaders will be very challenging.

CHPPR to Speak at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting
Ronald Deprez, Ph.D., MPH and Amy Kinner, MS will be presenting papers at three sessions of the annual American Public Health Association meeting being held on November 3-7, 2007 in Washington, DC. Papers will be presented on Improved Care for Chronic Conditions in Rural Maine, Improving Care for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Rural Maine: An IHI Collaborative, and Essential Components of Patient Self-Management.

The Improved Care for Chronic Conditions in Rural Maine Project was designed to enhance the use of evidence-based medicine, patient self management and linkages between community resources, patients and providers for patients diagnosed with Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Obesity, Heart Failure, COPD and/or Depression. Improving Care for Patients with COPD in Rural Maine: An IHI Collaborative sought to demonstrate the effectiveness of using evidence-based best practice guidelines and patient support for behavior change in the rural practice settings. The Essential Components of Patient Self Management is based on the literature and our experience in quality improvement.

CHPPR to write COPD White Paper for The American Lung Association of Maine
In September of 2007 the Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR) was contracted by the American Lung Association of Maine (ALAM) to produce a White Paper on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The concept of this paper resulted from a COPD Leadership Meeting held on May 11, 2007 at the Maine Hospital Association. The purpose of this meeting was to achieve consensus on a comprehensive system of care approach to chronic lung disease in Maine, with a focus on COPD. The goal of the meeting was to determine what the system of care will look like from early diagnosis, rehab, support groups and palliative care.

CHPPR has done extensive research and development on care improvement of COPD in Maine. CHPPR just completed a two year project Improved Care for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients in Rural Maine funded by the Maine Health Access Foundation and the US Centers for Disease Control. This initiative is a demonstration of how to improve COPD care in rural Maine through office practice change and implementation of best-practice care. The methodology that supports the COPD initiative is consistent with the Chronic Care Model and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s “Breakthrough Series” change methods.

This White Paper describes the criteria for best practice, the current status of COPD care and management in Maine, and gaps between the two. This information is organized by the role of provider, the health system, and policy makers in COPD prevention and management. Clinical guidelines are based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) standards. The paper assesses current COPD management in Maine with data from CHPPR’s evaluation of the COPD collaborative project and from interviews with providers, policy makers and insurers throughout the state.


CHPPR Welcomes Nancy Brossoie to the Center
Nancy Brossoie, Ph.D., ABD joined CHPPR in the late summer of 2007 as our Senior Research Associate. Nancy brings to the Center 20 years of experience in the delivery and evaluation of community-based programs in behavioral health and come and community-based services for state and non-profit agencies. Her research interests include developing/evaluating community capacity, studying quality improvement activities within organizations, and developing consumer satisfaction measures. Ms. Brossoie’s background is informed by a strong background in gerontology. In 2005, she was named an AARP National Scholar for her research interests in how community members and community programming contribute to quality of life and facilitate home and community-based living. She completed her doctoral education in the field of human development through Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where she most recently served as adjunct faculty and Research Associate/Project Coordinator for the Center for Gerontology.


UNE announces changes at the Health Literacy Center
The University of New England’s Health Literacy Center, a research and training program focused on raising awareness of the need for health literacy and providing skills to health professionals to affect this process, has changed its name to the Health Literacy Institute. In addition, the Institute, previously housed under UNE’s Area Health Education Center (AHEC) on the University Campus in Biddeford, will now be housed under UNE’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Management (CHPPR) on the Westbrook College Campus in Portland.

The Health Literacy Institute merged into CHPPR in order to expand the Institute’s training and research business within an organization with a proven track record of research and consulting nationally and internationally.

Sue Stableford, M.P.H., M.S.B., will continue to serve as director of the Institute, a position she has held since 1989. Under her guidance, the Institute has become nationally known in health communication training and education.

The University of New England’s Health Literacy Center, a research and training program focused on raising awareness of the need for health literacy and providing skills to health professionals to affect this process, has changed its name to the Health Literacy Institute. In addition, the Institute, previously housed under UNE’s Area Health Education Center (AHEC) on the University Campus in Biddeford, will now be housed under UNE’s Center for Health Policy, Planning and Management (CHPPR) on the Westbrook College Campus in Portland. The Health Literacy Institute merged into CHPPR in order to expand the Institute’s training and research business within an organization with a proven track record of research and consulting nationally and internationally. Sue Stableford, M.P.H., M.S.B., will continue to serve as director of the Institute, a position she has held since 1989. Under her guidance, the Institute has become nationally known in health communication training and education.

The Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research contracted to Assess the Health Insurance Needs of Pennsylvania Residents
The Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research (CHPPR), which is located at the University of New England’s Westbrook College Campus, along with its survey research partner Market Decisions, has been awarded a contract by the state of Pennsylvania to conduct research on the uninsured population in the state.

The study, which will include a 20,000 sample household survey, is being done in order to 1) estimate the amount of uninsured adults and children at both county and state levels; 2) describe key characteristics of the uninsured and under-insured along with principal barriers they have in accessing health insurance programs; and 3) identify programs and policies Pennsylvania might pursue to expand insurance coverage to these populations.

The current study will build on an initial 2004 healthcare access study done by the Center (formerly known as Public Health Resource Group) and Market Decisions for the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. The 2004 study, which included a large population survey of PA residents, was designed to describe the uninsured population in the state, as well as key characteristics of this population. The report issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance provided detailed information on the health insurance status of Pennsylvania residents, the characteristics of the uninsured residents, barriers to health insurance coverage and barriers to healthcare.

The new study will measure trends in insurance coverage and the impact of programs implemented following the 2004 study. It will also assist in the development of new programs to reach out to those currently without insurance.

CHPPR receives contract to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment of the Middlesex Health System service area
On July 19, 2007 Ronald Deprez, Ph.D. MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy, Planning and Research met with Katherine Schneider, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Middlesex Health System to finalize plans for a Community Health Assessment (CHNA) of Middlesex Health System (MHS) service area.

The MHS is a progressive system serving the Middlesex County, Connecticut area. It is one of 10 nation wide sites for the new Medicare experiment, Physician Group Practice Demonstration. This initiative allows participating practices the opportunity to earn performance payments for improving the quality and cost-efficiency of health care delivered to Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

The demonstration focuses on improving care management and coordination of care at the practice sites, a high priority of the current research being done at CHPPR. They are at the forefront of quality improvement initiatives in outpatient care, with a particular focus on improvement of care for persons with chronic conditions. The demonstration also focuses on expanding palliative and hospice care, modifying physician practice patterns and behavior, and enhancing information technology.

The objectives of the CHNA that CHPPR will perform include 1. Complete a demographic, health status, utilization and health outcomes profile of the population of MHS service area; 2. Identify current and future healthcare priority health service issues by health domain; 3. Determine health issues among sub-populations and geographic clusters; 4. Identify gaps in community services and programs; 5. Provide MHS with the service planning information to expand its service base, serve community need, and collaborate with partners to improve population health.

The report due to be completed by December 2007 will provide MHS with a solid foundation of information for service planning and development over the next several years.