1. Partnering for Health: Engaging Community Support to Facilitate Healthy Lifestyle Change
Thomas Hahn, MD; Magnolia Larson, DO; Julia Yates, LCSW; Brian Arndt, MD Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Background
Obesity is the most common health problem affecting patients at our clinic (26%)
Our department is transitioning to a department of family medicine and community health to better address population health concerns
Group visits have been a routine offering in our clinic for over 10 years
Methods
Connections formed with community partners including local insurance companies, fitness facilities, grocery stores, chef, yoga instructor (Figure 1)
Obesity group visits + Local stakeholder support = 2020 Fitness & Lifestyle Challenge
2020 Fitness & Lifestyle Challenge structure:
20 patients with BMI >30 invited personally by their clinician to participate
20 weeks: 1 group visit/month for 6 months
Group visit structure: guided stretching and relaxation, healthy dinner, brief educational topic, small group SMART goal setting
Weekly s to participants: 4 healthy recipes, grocery list, fitness and nutrition tips
Successful participation: attend 5/6 group visits, 2 fitness activities/week or 5000 steps/day (pedometers provided), try 2 recipes/week
Conclusions
Recruiting community partners to support obesity group visits is a successful method of practicing community medicine that benefits patients, clinicians, and community organizations
A similar model could be replicated and implemented in other communities
Future Directions
Maintain current community partnerships
Recruit additional insurance companies, fitness facilities, grocery stores, and local restaurants (including fast food)
Expand group visit participants to other family members
Invite past patient participants to serve as mentors
Spread the model to other clinics
Results
Successfully recruited 9 community partners over 2 years
(Figure 2):
Three insurance companies (GHC, Physicians Plus, Unity): $100 wellness reimbursement to offset group visit co-pays, free health coach services (GHC)
Two fitness facilities (Anytime Fitness, Healthy Woman): 50% off membership, provided practical fitness tips in weekly s
Two grocery stores (Miller & Sons and HyVee): $20 gift cards, 10% off all groceries, HyVee dietician provided nutrition tips in weekly s
Local chef: prepared healthy meals for each group visit
Local yoga instructor: led “yoga” at group visits
Group visits resulted in improved metrics:
Weight
Blood pressure
Labs: hemoglobin A1C and cholesterol profile
Mood (PHQ-9 scores)
Patient & clinician satisfaction
Figure 1: Forming Clinic-Community Partnerships
HRSA Grant
Provided funding for recruitment
Stakeholder recruitment
Clinician-stakeholder meetings over lunch and dinner (insurance companies, fitness facilities, grocery stores,)
Face time at group visits
Fitness club manager and grocery story dietician introduced at group visits, formally invited patient participation in their facilities
Group visit field trips
Fitness club and grocery store tours, onsite tips
Sustainable Partnerships
Figure 2: Fitness & Lifestyle Challenge Partners