PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Teenagers are often in good physical health but they have unique medical needs that must be served through primary care, even though they are often unlikely to seek that attention. To determine the best ways to serve teens in the emerging primary care model of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), the Department of Family Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island will convene a ‘Think Tank’ of national experts Tuesday, May 21, 2013.
“This Think Tank will focus on the central question: How do we build or enhance medical homes to be ideal for adolescents within our existing PCMH and primary care efforts?” said organizer Dr. Joanna Brown, clinical assistant professor of family medicine and practice transformation director of the Brown Primary Care Transformation Initiative. The Department of Family Medicine and the initiative are based at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket.
At the same time they no longer see doctors routinely, as they did when they were younger, many adolescents also begin to engage in risky behaviors, such as sex or use of controlled substances and tobacco, that can lead to chronic health problems in adulthood. Adolescence is also a time when some mental health issues emerge.
“It is important to address adolescent primary health care needs now in order to improve their current quality of life and to invest in their future,” she said. “We plan to build a conceptual model for creating medical homes for adolescents. Then, we hope to use this model to come up with priorities for building and enhancing medical homes for adolescents in Rhode Island.”
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts will make introductory remarks at the Think Tank, followed by Brown’s dean of medicine and biology, Dr. Edward Wing.
Who
In addition to Gov. Chafee, Lt. Gov. Roberts, Dean Wing, Family Medicine Chair Dr. Jeffrey Borkan, and Dr. Brown, the panel of experts includes:
- Dr. Shikha Anand, director of strategic alliances and initiatives/Obesity Program director, National Institute Children's Healthcare Quality
- Joan Asarnow, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA;
- Dr. Robert T. Brown, professor of pediatrics, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and UMDNJ/RWJ Medical School;
- Dr. Joanne E. Cox, medical director, Children's Hospital of Boston Primary Care Center; Young Parents Program;
- Dr. Kathryn B. Fessler, medical director, The Corner Health Center;
- Dr. Patricia Flanagan, chief of clinical affairs/director, Teens With Tots Program; associate professor of pediatrics, Hasbro Children’s Hospital/Alpert Medical School;
- Kim Freeman, manager, Adolescent Health Initiatives; coordinator, Montefiore Adolescent Primary Care Initiative;
- Dr. Barbara L. Frankowski, professor of pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine;
- Dr. Alejandro Jadad, founder/chief innovator, Global eHealth Innovation, University of Toronto;
- Margaret A. McManus, president, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health;
- Jennifer Salerno, president, Possibilities for Change, LLC;
- Dr. Charles J. Wibbelsman, chief of adolescent medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco.
What
A think tank to develop ideas for ensuring that teens get needed care in the patient-centered medical home model of primary care
Where
Alpert Medical School medical education building
222 Richmond St. in Providence
When
8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Contact
Joanna Brown: 401-258-1283 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Reporters are encouraged to attend.