HSS: Improving Musculoskeletal Health of Surrounding Communities

Orthopedics This Week—December 13, 2016

Orthopedics This Week reports that the HSS Stamford Outpatient Center is increasing outreach and educational programs. They recently conducted a survey (CHNA) assessing the muscle, bone and joint health needs of people living in lower Fairfield and upper Westchester counties. 

Pamela Villagomez, manager of Stamford Education initiative at HSS, explains "While our CHNA survey was successful in providing us with valuable information on the health status, healthy lifestyle and interest in health education of our surrounding communities, the response rate yielded results that were limited in providing a more thorough picture of both our underserved populations and of the younger age group that is more predominant in the area. Subsequent to the survey implementation, we took measures to fill in this gap by holding focus groups in the underserved populations to understand their musculoskeletal health needs and identify gaps and health disparities that exist."

"Being new to the community, building trust and establishing partnerships with community members and community-based organizations (CBOs) were critical in learning more about our community prior to the survey implementation and in developing collaborative opportunities during the survey implementation and afterwards with program development and rollout. Community involvement provided invaluable information that helped guide community education, outreach and support initiatives." says Titilayo Ologhobo, associate director of Outcomes in the Public & Patient Education Department at HSS.

Read the full article at RyOrtho.com.