February 1, 2017 at 10:31 pm

Wealth & Poverty | Comprehensive Patient Navigator Program for Rural Appalachia, Feb. 8

The Wealth & Poverty theme at Ohio University presents Dr. Elizabeth Beverly discussing Comprehensive Patient Navigator Program for Rural Appalachia on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 2-3 p.m. at Alden 319.

This event is part of Wealth & Poverty Week: Rural America.

Abstract

Dr. Elizabeth Beverly

Diabetes rates in rural Appalachian Southeastern Ohio are 30-40 percent higher than the national average. Diabetes patients living in Southeastern Ohio are more likely to have a delayed diagnosis, less access to health care, socioeconomic barriers, lower empowerment and health literacy, and more diabetes complications. This presentation will discuss a novel program designed to address the social determinants of health for adults with type 2 diabetes in a rural Appalachian Southeastern Ohio. The Comprehensive Patient Navigation Program for Rural Appalachia is designed to reduce barriers to health care (e.g., transportation, housing, expanded insurance coverage), improve health outcomes (e.g., glycemic and blood pressure control; reduced depression, distress), and lower health care expenditures (e.g., reduced admissions, readmissions, and emergency department utilization) for individuals with type 2 diabetes through the development and coordinated implementation of three programs: (1) a Diabetes Patient Navigator Program, (2) a Medical Legal Partnership Program, and (3) a Consumer-Engaged Coalition.

Speaker Bio

Beverly is Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2003 and with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biology and Behavioral Health with a minor in Gerontology in 2008. She recently completed a five-year postdoctoral fellowship in diabetes at Harvard Medical School with the Joslin Diabetes Center. Beverly’s research in diabetes and behavioral medicine examines the behavioral and psychosocial challenges that arise from following diabetes self-care recommendations and treatment prescriptions. She regularly participates in research integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques to better understand the management of type 1 and 2 diabetes. Specifically, her research addresses individual patient characteristics and abilities necessary to 1) follow treatment recommendations, 2) improve self-care, and 3) maintain improvements in diabetes self-care and glycemic control.