Health Network: Bringing the most vulnerable to care

NIH RePORTER · NIH · OT2 · $375,000 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

1.- Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Thousands of mobile, under-resourced patients relocate across regions each year. While most are healthy, some require urgent medical care due to emerging health conditions, exacerbated pre-existing illnesses, injuries acquired during relocation, or undertreated, undiagnosed, chronic diseases. These conditions may receive attention through local programs, but in fragmented ways. More often, medical needs remain unattended until care is obtained at the patient’s destination. For example, a child with epilepsy may lack medication or a pregnant woman, in the third trimester, may go without prenatal care; both could result in serious health consequences. Insufficient attention has been paid to the difficult factors faced by highly mobile patients. These factors include financial constraints, frequent relocation, and limited familiarity with local health systems, all of which make accessing timely care difficult. With lives dominated by pressing needs such as financial, housing, or school enrollment the challenges are considerable. Comprehensive data are limited on community health outcomes; however, challenges in continuity of care are reported. In collaboration with public and private partners, we aim to foster a community-engaged research project to develop and coordinate a durable structural intervention anchored in a referral and patient navigation network, integrating a Community-Based Referral Network and navigator-led support. The intervention will build organizational linkages and streamline referral pathways for individuals with medical needs, including pediatric populations and perinatal care. This approach aims to improve access, strengthen continuity of care and foster sustained engagement across diverse entry points, in partnership with the many organizations that support mobile and resource-limited populations.

Key facts

NIH application ID
11167930
Project number
3OT2OD035845-01S1
Recipient
MIGRANT CLINICIANS NETWORK, INC.
Principal Investigator
Anibal Yariel Lopez-Correa
Activity code
OT2
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$375,000
Award type
3
Project period
2023-09-22 → 2028-09-21