Publications by authors named "Janina Morrison"

Article Synopsis
  • Bi-directional communication and referral pathways (BCRPs) between clinics and community organizations can enhance well-being for vulnerable populations with complex health and social needs.
  • Establishing BCRPs is complex and requires systematic changes across various organizational settings, with few successful models currently in practice.
  • A year-long project in Los Angeles engaged a multi-sector team through three phases (Discovery, Systems Mapping, and BCRP Re-design and Testing) to create a data-driven approach for developing sustainable BCRPs that can significantly improve population health.
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Background: Physical activity (PA) is known to improve quality of life (QoL) as well as reduce mortality and disease progression in individuals with chronic neurological disorders. However, Latina women are less likely to participate in recommended levels of PA due to common socioeconomic barriers, including limited resources and access to exercise programs. Therefore, we developed a community-based intervention with activity monitoring and behavioral coaching to target these barriers and facilitate sustained participation in an exercise program promoting PA.

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Introduction: Despite the Affordable Care Act's insurance expansion, low-income Latinos are less likely to have a primary care provider compared with other racial/ethnic and income groups. We examined if community-based health care navigation could improve access to primary care in this population.

Methods: We surveyed adult clients of a community-based navigation program serving predominantly low-income Latinos throughout Los Angeles County in 2019.

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Context: The coupling of health care services with complementary resources that address unmet social needs is a progressively popular approach for improving health outcomes among low-income populations. Community health workers are increasingly recognized as a helpful intermediary for clients navigating community and clinical services.

Program: The Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital in East Los Angeles employs a team of community health workers, referred to as Health Navigators, who are trained to link low-income clients to resources such as chronic disease management programs, food pantries, free or low-cost legal aid, health insurance enrollment, group fitness classes, and counseling and peer support services.

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In December 2017, the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs and Board of Supervisors, alongside local health care and legal providers, convened the Health Equity for Immigrants and Families Summit to advance a vision for immigrant health. We describe the four critical concepts identified by stakeholders to address the varied needs of immigrants in an increasingly anti-immigrant political environment: (1) Recognizing immigration status as a modifiable social determinant of health; (2) Adopting the concept of "Immigration-Informed Care" within health care institutions; (3) Establishing immigration-focused medical-legal partnerships; and (4) Building coordinated systems based on knowledge of local stakeholders, policies, and funding mechanisms.

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Millions of people gained health care coverage in Los Angeles after the Affordable Care Act (ACA); however, challenges with obtaining and utilizing primary care still persist, particularly in the safety net. In this study, we explore barriers to accessing primary care services among safety-net patients in Los Angeles after Medicaid expansion and implementation of other programs for safety-net patients after the ACA. We conducted qualitative interviews, in Spanish and English, with 34 nonelderly adult patients in 1 of 3 insurance groups: Medicaid, MyHealthLA (a health care program for low-income undocumented individuals), or uninsured.

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Previous studies have shown that lifestyle modification can successfully prevent or delay development of type 2 diabetes. This trial aimed to test if an underserved, low-income population would engage in a digital diabetes prevention program and successfully achieve lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants were recruited from three health care facilities serving low-income populations.

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Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The GBD (Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors) study (GBD 2010 Study) conducted a systematic review of IHD epidemiology literature from 1980 to 2008 to inform estimates of the burden on IHD in 21 world regions in 1990 and 2010.

Methods: The disease model of IHD for the GBD 2010 Study included IHD death and 3 sequelae: myocardial infarction, heart failure, and angina pectoris.

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Investigation of people exposed to cases of infectious tuberculosis (contact investigation) is key to tuberculosis control in countries with low tuberculosis incidence. However, in countries in which the incidence of tuberculosis is high, contact investigation is not commonly done. Increasing concerns about the failure to meet case-detection targets and about the spread of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis have prompted a reassessment of the potential benefits of contact investigation.

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Our objective was to examine the academic literature covering quality of childhood preventive care in the United States and to identify barriers that contribute to poor or disparate quality. We systematically reviewed articles related to childhood preventive care published from 1994 through 2003, focusing on 58 large observational studies and interventions addressing well-child visit frequency, developmental and psychosocial surveillance, disease screening, and anticipatory guidance. Although many children attend recommended well-child visits and receive comprehensive preventive care at those visits, many do not attend such visits.

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