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Leveraging Student Volunteers to Connect Patients with Social Risk to Resources On a Coordinated Care Platform: A Case Study with Two Endocrinology Clinics
Lee, Grace Liu, Rebecca McPeek Hinz, Eugenia R. Bettger, Janet Prvu Purakal, John Spratt, Susan E.
Lee, Grace
Liu, Rebecca
McPeek Hinz, Eugenia R.
Bettger, Janet Prvu
Purakal, John
Spratt, Susan E.
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Journal article
Date
2024-02-14
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Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
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https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.7633
Abstract
Introduction: Although unmet social needs can impact health outcomes, health systems often lack the capacity to fully address these needs. Our study describes a model that organized student volunteers as a community-based organisation (CBO) to serve as a social referral hub on a coordinated social care platform, NCCARE360.
Description: Patients at two endocrinology clinics were systematically screened for social needs. Patients who screened positive and agreed to receive help were referred via NCCARE360 to student ‘Help Desk’ volunteers, who organised as a CBO. Trained student volunteers called patients to place referrals to resources and document them on the platform. The platform includes documentation at several levels, acting as a shared information source between healthcare providers, volunteer student patient navigators, and community resources. Navigators followed up with patients to problem-solve barriers and track referral outcomes on the platform, visible to all parties working with the patient.
Discussion: Of the 44 patients who screened positive for social needs and were given referrals by Help Desk, 41 (93%) were reached for follow-up. Thirty-six patients (82%) connected to at least one resource. These results speak to the feasibility and utility of organising undergraduate student volunteers into a social referral hub to connect patients to resources on a coordinated care platform.
Conclusion: Organising students as a CBO on a centralized social care platform can help bridge a critical gap between healthcare and social services, addressing health system capacity and ultimately improving patients’ connections with resources.
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Lee G, Liu R, McPeek Hinz ER, Bettger JP, Purakal J, Spratt SE. Leveraging Student Volunteers to Connect Patients with Social Risk to Resources On a Coordinated Care Platform: A Case Study with Two Endocrinology Clinics. International Journal of Integrated Care, 2024; 24(1):10, 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.7633
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Ubiquity Press, Ltd.
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International Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 24, Iss. 1
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Attribution CC BY