About the Healthcare Systems & Provider Mobilization Working Group

Goal

Mobilize health systems and health care professionals to proactively identify and comprehensively address OA in their clinical care (e.g., decision prompts, pain management, physical activity as a vital sign, referral to community-based programs).

To achieve this goal, the Action Alliance will work with the Chronic Osteoarthritis Management Initiative (COAMI), which is addressing healthcare professional and clinical issues.

The primary strategies for the group currently include:
1) Engage primary care as OAAA members (clinics/practice groups, professional organizations) and/or content experts (medical professionals).
2) Encourage partnerships to support programs/foster relations with clinical care providers (Exercise is Medicine, Walk with a Doc).
3) Provide education and training about effective evidence-based interventions and enable clinicians and clinical care systems to refer and support participation in these programs.

Workgroup Accomplishments:

• Along with the Chronic OA Management Initiative (COAMI), to develop a Memorandum of Understanding with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) organization to have OA as an integral part of the Exercise is Medicine® global health initiative.
• Continues to collaborate with the Walk with a Doc program,
  • to host walks in Chapel Hill, NC. Workgroup chair, Amanda Nelson is the first rheumatologist to lead walks.
  • Contributed 5 mini lectures about OA to the Walk with a Doc Walk Topics resource library.  Walk with A Doc plans to devote a page to OA in their Walk Topics library.
  • to feature the OAAA and Walk With a Doc program in the May issue of The Rheumatologist, a journal that goes to all members of the American College of Rheumatology.
• Developed OA Toolkit for Pharmacists with ideas and guidance on how to assume a more active role in the detection, prevention, and treatment of OA.
• Developed OA Care Tools – a guide for all primary care providers with educational information for primary care providers to expand their knowledge of OA as well as patient-facing handouts and resources that can help empower patients to engage in self-management strategies to complement clinical care.

Priority Audiences: Primary care clinicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, hospital systems, private practice groups, insurance providers, etc.

Group Leadership

M. Elaine Husni, MD, MPH

Chair, Healthcare Systems & Provider Mobilization Working Group
Representative of Cleveland Clinic
Complete Bio