Funded Projects

Problem:

Needs and Purpose: Chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma and breathing-related sleep disorders are the most common physically disabling conditions of childhood. There are increasing numbers of children and youth with special respiratory and sleep health care needs (CYSRHCN) who require complex and technological care who are living longer. Although medical homes should meet these needs, most CYSRHCN and their families do not have integrated coordinated comprehensive care, including mental and behavioral health services. This is particularly true of CYSRHCN from diverse backgrounds, those in poverty, those residing in rural settings, and with medical complexity.

Trained clinical leaders conversant in systems of care and health equity who can use technology to innovate interdisciplinary care and care coordination are needed to address the systems of care, programs, and policies that impact these children. Future leaders will need to partner with community, state, and national agencies, including family-led organizations.

Goals and Objectives:

The University of Washington's PPC will address these needs through:

1. interdisciplinary training of graduate health professionals,
2. inclusion of families and youth into clinical decision making, teaching, and program development,
3. increased access and coordination of care through innovations in technology,
4. partnerships with state Title V agencies, community, and family networks to improve care,
5. increased diversity among trainees and faculty and a focus on health equity, and
6. quality improvement and research to further transform care in MCH Region X and nationally for CYSRHCN and their families.

Methodology:

The training methods used will include serial self-assessments, unidisciplinary curricula for graduate degrees, interdisciplinary seminars about MCHB history and leadership skills, a Core PPC Seminar series, interdisciplinary clinical practicums across care systems (including telehealth clinics); case discussions, group discussions with parents as teachers, UW MCHB Leadership Consortium Workshops, a Leadership Capstone Project, and research. Program methodology includes diverse faculty in 6 disciplines including families as faculty, recruiting diverse trainees, increasing MCH Title V partnerships, clinical service to underserved CYSRSHCNin 5 states, distance and web-based teaching as continuing education(CE) and technical assistance (TA) regionally and nationally, advocacy activities, interdisciplinary research, and collaboration with the national network of PPCs.

Proposed Services include:

1. clinical services & care coordination to CYSRHCN and their families, TA & CE to health care providers and networks &community services, family advocates, and
2. joint program assessment and development with state Title V partners, payors, and professional organizations, and the Maternal Child Health Bureau regarding CYSRHCN and their families.

Population groups served include:

1. CYSRSHCN and their families residing in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Oregon,
2. underserved families with CYSRHCN under our care whose circumstances will be used to evaluate systems of care, improve their medical homes, community-based support systems, and health outcomes.