Stony Brook’s Susmita Pati Receives National Recognition for Innovative Pediatric Program
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| Susmita Pati, MD, MPH |
STONY BROOK, NY, May 19, 2017 — Susmita Pati, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Primary Care Pediatrics and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, received the Academic Pediatric Association
Healthcare Delivery Award for Stony Brook Children’s Hospital’s Keeping Families Healthy program. The award was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in San Francisco, CA, on May 7, during the APA Membership Meeting.
The award acknowledges Dr. Pati’s innovation in linking Stony Brook Children’s patient-centered medical home approach with the community, engaging learners at multiple levels, and conducting academic work in concert with care delivery to at-risk children.
Keeping Families Healthy is a free community health worker (CHW) home visitation program that has demonstrated a positive impact on the outcomes of children’s health. Patients under age 18 who are deemed “at risk” by Stony Brook clinicians, including newborns and children with chronic conditions such as asthma and obesity, are referred to the program. The program coordinator and trained CHWs act as a bridge between clinicians and patients.
“The Keeping Families Healthy program is particularly deserving of the APA’s Health Care Delivery award at this time because of its unique contributions to advancing our understanding of the effectiveness of inter-professional service delivery models,” said Margaret M. McGovern, MD, PhD, Physician-In-Chief of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “Dr. Pati has been the principal architect of this program from its inception and a key proponent for ensuring its sustainability by integrating its infrastructure with institutional training programs and clinical expansion initiatives.”
Established in 2011, the program’s goals are to clarify with families ways to seek appropriate medical treatment, empower families to be prepared for doctors’ appointments, facilitate families understanding of the doctors’ recommendations, facilitate families’ creation of systems to keep track of their child’s medical information, identify and address barriers to obtaining healthcare, connect families with local community resources, and provide appropriate health education.
“Keeping Families Healthy is a proven innovative model to address health disparities and improve health outcomes by leveraging the strengths of inter-professional academic training programs that can be extended to other populations, such as the elderly and adults with chronic disease,” Dr. Pati said.
Participating families receive tailored home visits and phone/text message support from CHWs until they are comfortable independently managing their children’s medical needs. The program is being offered throughout Suffolk County for patients ages 0-26 with asthma to reduce their utilization of the hospital and the Emergency Department.
“Dr. Pati’s leadership has been exponentially valuable in advancing this innovative and effective healthcare delivery program,” said L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Stony Brook University Hospital. “It incorporates teaching and training the next generation of health professionals to succeed in an evolving healthcare environment focused on population health and value-based purchasing.”
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About Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
With 104 beds, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is Suffolk County’s only children’s hospital. More than 8,000 children and young adults are discharged each year. Stony Brook Children’s has more than 180 pediatric specialists in over 30 specialties. The hospital is Suffolk County’s only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center and has a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is home to the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center and also offers a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program, Pediatric Cardiology Program, Pediatric HIV and AIDS Center, and Cystic Fibrosis Center. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookchildrens.org.
