HJNO Jan/Feb 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  JAN / FEB 2021 43 gagement. Further, notes IPFCC, “Many provid- ers are unaware of the impact that health literacy, trauma, and other social factors have on an individual and his/her fami- ly’s ability to reliably and consistently en- gage in their own health.” Opportunities for Physicians Ultimately, reports IPFCC, “For en- gagement in the care experience to be mutual and sustained, interactions need to be authentic and intentional…Mecha- nisms must be in place so that the input and perspectives of Medicaid beneficia- ries are sought out, listened to, and acted upon.” To achieve that, physicians and their staffs are encouraged to explore strat- egies that incorporate cultural com- petency, health literacy, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, patient-centered communication and patient coaching. In many cases, train- ing opportunities in these techniques are available at nominal or no cost via physi- cians’ local professional associations and Stewart T. Gordon, MD, FAAP Chief Medical Officer, Medical Affairs Louisiana Healthcare Connections often, through local Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Louisiana Healthcare Connections, for example, offers a comprehensive cata- log of provider educational offerings, all available at no cost to in-network provid- ers, and many of which offer CEUs (con- tinuing education units) appropriate for licensure. In addition, the health plan is partnering with the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) in 2021 to provide a series of educational webinars that will offer professional-level training in patient engagement, patient experi- ence and patient satisfaction. In addition, physicians can take advan- tage of care management resources avail- able through their local Medicaid MCOs. These care management programs enable physicians to refer Medicaid beneficiaries for enhanced and personalized outreach by licensed clinical professionals who work collaboratively with the physician to help the patient achieve the optimal health outcome. Ultimately, the extent to which patients are engaged in their health and health- care is directly related to their overall health outcomes. As physicians, we have the opportunity to identify, develop and implement best practices that help our patients – even those with significant non-health challenges – better engage in their health. By using the resources im- mediately available to us, we can work collaboratively to drive long-term im- provements in the health of one of Lou- isiana’s most vulnerable patient popula- tions. n SOURCES “Individual and Family Engagement in the Med- icaid Population: Emerging Best Practices and Recommendations.” Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Mary M. Minniti, Marie R. Abraham, and Beverley H. Johnson. November 2014. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Opportunities to improve care coordination and patient engagement among Medicaid beneficia- ries.” AcademyHealth. Rebecca Bruno. July 16, 2018. “Patient Engagement at the Margins: Healthcare Providers’ Assessments of Engagement and the Structural Determinants of Health.” Mark D. Flem- ing, Janet K. Shim, et al. U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. June 2017. “Patient Engagement: A Health Policy Brief.” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Health Af- fairs. Feb. 14, 2013. “Many providers are unaware of the impact that health literacy, trauma, and other social factors have on an individual and his or her family’s ability to reliably and consistently engage in their own health.” – Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care