This initiative is designed to provide training for healthcare providers who may not fit the default body type to be able to safely support their patients. Many reduction and casting techniques have been developed for providers possessing specific physical attributes, such as significant upper body strength, a high center of gravity, and larger hands. Unfortunately, the perception of orthopedics as physically demanding has deterred women from pursuing the field.

The aim of this initiative is to enhance health equity in our diverse training environment. This spark grant ensures that Emergency Medicine providers, regardless of their gender identity or physical abilities, have equal opportunity to learn essential orthopedic techniques. Providers who identify as women or have differently abled body types, not consistent with traditional orthopedic providers, can confidently and successfully learn to perform orthopedic maneuvers. The aim is to empower them to successfully conduct orthopedic maneuvers.

Project Lead

Nellie Darling, MD, MS

Collaborators

Regan Marsh, MD, Michael Wilson, MD, Ph.D., Valerie Dobiesz, MD, Andrew Eyre, MD, and Derek Monette, MD

This project was developed with LEP (Limited English Proficiency) patients in mind. It creates an SMS based platform that will screen for patients facing language barriers. LEP patients often get ‘missed’ with traditional forms of phone-based outreach regarding follow up care and visitation leading to inequitable gaps in their health care. Call backs to the ED are often not from LEP patients but it is not because these patients do not have questions or need help navigating the system, the barrier is language. The recipients of the Spark Grant for Health Equity will work to minimize this barrier to increase access to care. Their proposal is to develop an automated, language-sensitive, SMS based screener for discharged patients with LEP. As a result, this would lead to this population being able to utilize current services for discharged patients, such as help with clinical questions, follow-up care and obtaining prescriptions. This program continues to evolve and has integrated with our ED Safe Discharge program, effectively addressing barriers associated with social determinants of health within our patient population.

Project Lead

David Whitehead, MD

Project Co-Lead

Paul Chen, MD, MBA

Project Co-Lead

Giovanni Rodriguez, MD

Collaborators

Andrew Marshall, MD; Nadia Huancahuari, MD; Sarah Ghozayel, RN; Anna Meyer, DNP, RN (Nurse Director); Christie Lucente, PA-C; Andrea McCabe (Care Coordination Collaborator); Maria Montrond-Brandao (ED Spanish Interpreter Collaborator); Yilu Ma (Interpreter Services Director)

Assessing how Current Practices and Attitudes Lead to Greater Use of Restraints in Black and Hispanic patients

The murder of George Floyd highlighted how members of U.S. Black and Brown communities are disproportionately and repeatedly subjected to excessive force by law enforcement agencies. Use of physical and chemical restraints remains common in emergency settings, despite significant risk of harm. Preliminary data across over a dozen Massachusetts hospital settings suggests that Black and Hispanic patients are physically restrained significantly more often in emergency departments compared to white or non-Hispanic patients.

The recipients of the Spark Grants for HealthEquity will design and implement a study protocol to meticulously assess and document how current practices and inherent biases may lead to more frequent restraint of black and brown patients. For example, recipients will examine how provider behavior and attitudes may escalate patient agitation and spark the use of forced restraint, increasing the possibility of a violent or harmful outcome.

Project Lead

Farah Z. Dadabhoy, MD

Project Co-Lead

Anita Chary, MD

Project Co-Lead

Melanie Molina, MD

Collaborators

Jossie Carreras Tartak; Vanni Rodriguez; Alex Zirulnik; Katie Dickerson; Andrew Eyre; Regan Marsh; Mike Wilson; Candice Jones; Aline Snietka; Zeyu Li (Statistician)