Author: atwhealth

Kiva Harper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Director of Harper Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC, in Arlington, Texas. Kiva is passionate about dispelling community stigma and offering highly personalized treatment to clients as a trauma-focused therapist. Her supporting specialties include depression and anxiety, conflict resolution, stress management, and career-related issues.

Kiva also serves as an Associate Professor in Practice in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned her MSSW.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• The prevalence of mental illness and stigma within the Black community
• The rise of Black youth suicide completion
• Impact of COVID-19 on Black youth and mental health resource usage
• The necessity of diverse representation in mental health care
• Mistrust towards health systems historically made to operate against Black populations

In this episode…

Black populations are disproportionately incarcerated and likely to live below poverty lines. Similarly, Black people are disproportionately affected by mental health issues.

During the pandemic, many people have been experiencing isolation, loss, grief, anxiety, and financial stress. Children of the current generation operate under a heavy load as they cope with personal COVID-19 impact and attend school with limited academic and social development access.

 

Here and now, there is a dire need to turn to mental health resources and dispel stigma. Notably, however, Black populations’ already limited access to healthcare has been further hindered by obstacles resulting from COVID-19. Historically, systems have not been designed to cater to Black people, and in many ways, this contributes to hesitancy around seeking mental health support.

 

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Kiva Harper, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Director of Harper Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC, in Arlington, Texas, to discuss the prevalence of mental health disparities amongst the Black community.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

Traumatic grief training will be led by Kiva Harper and introduced to social media on September 30th.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiva-harper-lcsw-s-she-her-8a7b7057

https://instagram.com/kivatharper?utm_medium=copy_link

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Deirdre Gilberts is a patient’s rights advocate, author, entrepreneur, and writer. She serves as founder and National Director of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association, created in 2011 due to her daughter Jocelyn’s death by medical error. Deirdre activates high standards of ethics and morality to ensure non-abuse of the powers entrusted to the medical profession by the American people.

The repeated refusal to take constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality has been the defining reason for her running for Governor of Texas. Born and raised in Houston, she has earned her M.A. in Educational Administration and B.S. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Prairie View A&M University.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Development and charge of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association
• Beloved Jocelyn Y. Dickson’s story of medical error
• Misinformation of the Tort Reform bill
• Advice to patients and families who are victims of medical error
• Advice to providers to engage patients and address medical negligence

In this episode…

The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association (NMMAA) is a nonprofit organization whose work centers around education and activism throughout the US. NMMAA was created for citizens of the state, beginning in Texas, who were harmed by medical error. Before its development, there was no organization anywhere on behalf of the patient.

Deirdre shares the story of perseverance that kept her daughter with CHARGE Syndrome alive for 22 years and the tragedy that took her life as written in her memoir “Momma Please Help Me,” entitled with Jocelyn’s final words. To date, not enough attention has been brought to the issue of medical error and negligence. Practitioners are urged to do no harm and to speak out against systemic and individual incidents of negligence.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Deirdre Gilbert, National Director of the NMMAA in Missouri City, TX, to discuss her personal and professional insights into the prevalence of medical error and negligence.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association – https://www.nmmaa.org/
• Consumer Watchdog – https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/
• Jocelyn Y. Dickson Foundation – https://www.jocelyndickson.com/about_us

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Deirdre Gilberts is a patient’s rights advocate, author, entrepreneur, and writer. She serves as founder and National Director of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association, created in 2011 due to her daughter Jocelyn’s death by medical error. Deirdre activates high standards of ethics and morality to ensure non-abuse of the powers entrusted to the medical profession by the American people.

The repeated refusal to take constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality has been the defining reason for Deirdre’s running for Governor of Texas. Born and raised in Houston, she has earned her M.A. in Educational Administration and B.S. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Prairie View A&M University.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Deirdre’s motivations for running for Governor of Texas
• The relationship between health policy and government to healthcare
• How patients can become more involved in health policy
• The Greater National Advocates resource founded by L. Bradley Schwartz
• Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act and limitations on health systems’ legal liability during the COVID-19 pandemic

In this episode…

The United States has no constitutional safeguards that protect individuals from immoral equality in healthcare systems. Many healthcare policies support systemic racism and have lasting effects on medical injustices. Thus, who is elected to office and the decisions they make directly affect healthcare outcomes. Deirdre shares that she is running for Governor of Texas in honor of her daughter Jocelyn and ensuring accountability for medical negligence.

Having the informed consent of our health keeps us healthy, and community partnerships with hospitals are pivotal for holding health systems accountable. Given that medical injustices come about when patients’ medical records are inaccessible, patients are encouraged to converse with legislative leaders, ask physicians questions, and educate themselves with available information.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Deirdre Gilberts, National Director of the NMMAA in Missouri City, TX, to discuss efforts to defend safeguards that prevent harm from medical error.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association – https://www.nmmaa.org/
• The Greater National Advocates – https://www.gnanow.org/
• Congressional Research Service’s report on the Prep Act – https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10443
• Prep Act – https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ148/PLAW-109publ148.pdf#page=140

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by ATW Health Solutions.

ATW Health Solutions is a Chicago-based healthcare advisory and consulting firm that has gained national recognition for transforming healthcare delivery systems from ordinary to best-in-class. 

At ATW Health Solutions, we use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to make healthcare better by focusing on improving quality, safety, and health equity in organizations and government agencies. 

Simply put, we create and implement innovative solutions for the right problems and the right people. 

So, what are you waiting for?

To learn more, visit our website today or contact us by email at info@atwhealth.com.

Geri Lynn Baumblatt, MA, has worked in health literacy, patient education, technology, and patient, family, and clinician experience for over 20 years. She co-founded the Difference Collaborative & Difference Collaborative Alliance, which supports family caregivers. Geri serves as the Chief Engagement Officer at Docola, a social good health tech company with a free patient education and communication platform. She also serves on the Patient Experience Policy Forum, the American Telemedicine Assoc ORCHA team, and was recently appointed to PCORI’s Patient Engagement Advisory Panel. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

·         The importance of raising awareness on difficult experiences of caregiving

·         How employers and health professionals can support individuals who serve as caregivers

·         The understated issues related to equity for caregivers

·         Resources available to patients and caregivers on the Docola website

In this episode…

Geri shares her expertise in patient advocacy, engagement, and education, as well as her personal experience as a caregiver for her beloved father.

 

Family members who serve as caregivers often do not recognize the heaviness of this role. As a result, they may not identify the need or know how to ask for help. With most of one’s time spent at work, employers need to be proactive in cultivating a culture of support. Moreover, clinicians should consider the impact of caregiving on their patients’ wellbeing.

 

Complex circumstances surrounding caregiving presents the issue of inequity. It is imperative that patients and caregivers can access resources to improve engagement and build relationships with health providers.

 

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Geri Lynn Baumblatt, Chief Engagement Officer at Docola, to raise awareness on the difficulties of providing hands-on care for loved ones.

 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Difference Collaborative – A non-profit and LLC website co-founded by Geri

Docola – A free patient education and communication platform

Rachelle Zribi is a Health Outcomes Researcher at YALE/YNHH Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE). She leads measure development and implementation teams, many of which engage closely with patients and families. Previously, Rachelle worked as a Research Intern at the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory and the UMass Memorial Medical Center in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Rachel Johnson-DeRycke is a Senior Health Outcomes Researcher for the Quality Measurement group at YALE CORE. In her role, she directs patient and family engagement initiatives. Prior to this work, Rachel held a position as a Public Health Specialist-Risk Analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, where she innovated developing microbial risk assessments to inform food safety policy development. She received her MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health from Drexel University.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

· YALE CORE’s journey with patient and family engagement

· The role of measurement and the importance of measure development

· What YALE CORE has learned from patient partners about engagement

· Thoughts on the future of patient-centered measurement in healthcare

In this episode…

It is critical for health systems to set measures in place to meet patients’ needs. Quality measurement allows all consumers to be informed about where they receive care. This transforms how hospitals address issues at their facility, the rankings they score, payment incentive programs, and more.

Rachelle Zribi and Rachel Johnson-DeRycke share how YALE CORE has embarked on a journey to reach true partnership and co-creation with patients, families, and patient advocates.

In doing so, patient partners have shared critical feedback on new measure decisions. Their input and stories help bring real-world experiences to the complex problems that the research teams focus on and the challenges patients face.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Rachelle Zribi and Rachel Johnson-DeRycke, Health and Senior Health Outcomes Researchers at YALE CORE, to discuss their measure development processes and patient and family engagement practices.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: YALE CORE

Ignatius Bau is an independent Health Equity Consultant based in San Francisco, California, who currently works with non-profit organizations, foundations, and government departments to improve care delivery and patient safety. In his role, he provides analysis of public policies, facilitates meetings, plans events, and conferences, and supports the development and implementation of organizational and programmatic strategies.

Ignatius has led many career paths in his experience. He began as a Civil Rights and Immigration Law Attorney after obtaining his JD from the University of California, Berkeley. Later, he worked as the Program Officer and Program Director at the California Endowment and directed health policy and programs at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Ignatius has also served on a host of expert advisory panels and councils on HIV/AIDS among minorities, Asian American and Pacific Islander health and wellness, immigrants, and refugee rights, and LGBTQIA+ issues, to name a few.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• What is the Asian American and Pacific Islander Presidential Memorandum

• How the Presidential Memorandum is being implemented by the Biden-Harris administration

• How community organizations have mobilized to address Anti-Asian Hate

• The disproportionate impact that COVID-19 has had on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders

• A glimpse into ATW’s project with the Office of Minority Health in response to the Presidential Memorandum

• Advice to community members and health care professionals on how to get involved

In this episode…

Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) are often ignored or labeled as model minorities. The concept of the model minority is a myth that dangerously perpetuates the idea that AANHPIs are more well-off than everyone else and assumes that there is no reason why the Federal, state, and local governments nor healthcare systems should pay attention to their needs.

Unfortunately, we have seen a surge in hate towards Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic fueled by inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric. Community-based organizations have mobilized to collect information about these incidents, as many are not on official law enforcement records, finding that they were largely accompanied by COVID-19 related statements and targeted various Asian ethnicities. The pandemic also highlighted the lack of data on AANHPI communities, an issue that precedes COVID-19.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Ignatius Bau, Health Equity Consultant in San Fransisco, California, to discuss the Presidential Memorandum, ATW’s current work with the Office of Minority Health, and how to get involved.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States

Karen Fernandes has been a nurse for over forty years and is Principal and President of AYR Consulting Group, where she supports hospitals across the United States in their quest for quality, patient safety, and compliance with Joint Commission Standards and Medicare Regulations. In her nursing experience, Karen has held many positions from Medical/Surgical, Emergency, OB, Nursing Supervisor, Chief Nursing Officer, and Director of Quality Management. 

As a volunteer, Karen has been an advocate for the Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposed for over 30 years. Karen served as President and board member of DES Action/USA, a non-profit organization whose goal is education, advocacy, and support of the millions of Americans exposed to DES. To expand the knowledge base, Karen has participated in National Institute of Health (NIH) research studies on DES and authored a DES Exposure Nursing Curriculum available in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Currently, Karen is the lead administrator for DES Info, a group that shares ongoing information for those affected. Karen is also a member of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Person and Family Engagement Network (PFEN).

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

·        The historical context and risks of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure

·        Karen Fernandes’s lived experience with DES exposure

·        How to be proactive if you are DES exposed or have a family history linked to DES

·        Advice to providers for addressing DES exposure in partnership with patients

·        Karen Fernandes’s advocacy work for those affected by DES

In this episode…

The story of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) began in 1938 when British physician and chemist Charles Dodds and his team of scientists made the first synthetic oral form of estrogen. While DES was used widely to prevent miscarriage and related complications in pregnant women, 1970s research has since linked DES exposure to a host of health conditions that affect generations.

Still, many are uninformed about DES, including health providers. Karen, who shares her insights as a DES daughter, nurse, and advocate, advises the DES-exposed or those concerned about DES exposure to ask providers questions and actively seek information related to DES. At the same time, providers must engage in an ongoing dialogue with patients to become familiarized with their lived experiences and address DES exposure.

In this episode of the Patient Partner Innovation Community podcast, Desiree Bradley is joined by Karen Fernandes, president of AYR Consulting Group in Dallas, Texas, to discuss the prevalence and risks of DES exposure.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

DES Info

NIH website

AYR Consulting Group

National Quality Forum

The Joint Commission

Ajshay James, MBA, is a Mediator, Motivator, Author, Advocate and Mother. She is originally from Washington, DC and is a champion for change—change in the way the world views philanthropy and approaches advocacy for vulnerable populations. Her years of experience of executive leadership in the philanthropic and financial sectors make her a powerhouse–that coupled with a heart the size of Texas is a recipe for a world of good. She has served on numerous committees, boards of directors, founded not-for-profits, launched initiatives and advised general corporations on goodwill strategy.

Her most proud role is that of a mother to her former micro-preemie toddler daughter and unicorn lover, Harper. Ajshay’s NICU and premature birthing experience has made her a strong advocate for preemie and patient rights as CEO and Founder of the Harp Foundation. Committed to health equity, Ajshay is a sought-after speaker and practices servant leadership. Currently, Ajshay is pursuing the development of a patient, caregiver, and inter-agency focused software that will offer risk management and response support to responding care partners in the healthcare field. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Ajshay James’ experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Resources that the Harp Foundation offers to parents in the NICU experience
• Ajshay’s advocacy work in partnership with Yale CORE on maternal health disparities
• The key role of community partners as drivers for measures development

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Harp Foundation

March of Dimes

Yale CORE

Michelle Whitman and MaryLiz McNamara believe that disability is an asset. They are on a mission to build sustainably inclusive practices and experiences for all.

Michelle has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in educational and corporate settings. Michelle’s passion for helping individuals see their weaknesses as a strength has paved the way for her success. She is the co-founder of Asset Based Consulting, Inc.

MaryLiz has decades of experience working on disability inclusion in education and employment. She has worked in cognitive rehabilitation for people with brain injuries, academic coaching, in career counseling for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and has led an accessibility office for a major university. She designed and led an award-winning program for neurodiverse university students which resulted in significant increases in degree completion and successful employment. She is the co-founder of Asset Based Consulting, Inc.

In this episode….

We discuss the topic of inclusion and access for people living with disabilities with experts Michelle Whitman and MaryLiz McNamara. Did you know that there are approximately 1 in 4 people live with a disability and more than 50% of people in the U.S. either identify as a person with a disability or are closely connected to someone who does? Michelle and MaryLiz work to disrupt the mindset around disability, resulting in authentically developed, sustainable processes that are accessible and inclusive by design.

Here’s a glimpse of what you will learn:

• Broaden your thinking about disability inclusion and access beyond compliance with regulation.
• Identify your assumptions about people with disabilities and how they cause barriers to inclusion.
• Be planful about disability inclusion from the beginning – be proactive versus reactive.

Contact Michelle or MaryLiz or connect with them through social media:

MaryLiz@AssetBasedConsulting.com

Michelle@AssetBasedConsulting.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/asset-based-consulting/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-witman/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-liz-mcnamara-090b308/

Facebook or Instagram: Asset Based Consulting

www.AssetBasedConsulting.com

Kevin Wake is currently the chairman for University Health’s Patient & Family Advisory Committee. He is also the President of the Uriel E. Owens Sickle Cell Disease Association of the Midwest in Kansas City, KS. He has a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Kansas and worked in pharmaceutical sales and management for 23 years before taking an early retirement due to health complications from his sickle cell disease. He also has a master’s degree in Healthcare Informatics from Walden University and a Community Health Worker certification from the SCDAA.

In this episode….

Kevin Wake shares his journey from patient to patient advocate. You will hear how he began to engage with his local Sickle Cell organization and quickly became a national champion. His story will inspire you into action. He also explains how to provide a welcoming environment where patients and providers can come together collaboratively to drive change in your healthcare ecosystem.

Here’s a glimpse of what you will learn:

• How a patient’s story and lived experience has the power to drive change in the healthcare ecosystem
• The different levels of patient engagement and how a patient can be empowered to partner with their healthcare environment
• The importance and strategies to ensure health systems provide an environment for meaningful patient engagement