Building Connections between Practices, Patients, and Community Health

The Disparities Research Unit in the Mongan Institute and partners at Massachusetts General Hospital are conducting the Building Connections project to address health and healthcare disparities in socially vulnerable communities. The project will be conducted in collaboration with 12 clinical practices across the state, serving a diverse population heavily represented in Community Health Centers and Massachusetts ACOs.

The project provides funding for clinician and staff coaching and support to offer evidence-based interventions focused on obesity/weight management, cancer screening, and mental health.

The project has three main goals:

1. Establish partnerships between health centers and the MGH study team to build capacity for improved healthcare access and quality and reduce service disparities in obesity/weight management, mental health, and cancer prevention.
2. Understand partners' coaching and support needs to assist in expanding evidence-based clinical programs and the necessary ancillary workforce for services in the three health conditions.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the obesity/weight management, mental health, and colorectal and cervical cancer screening services, and if effective, launch and facilitate learning communities to disseminate the coaching and support model to other practices.

Contact MGHBuildingConnections@mgb.org for more information.

This project is funded by an anonymous donor.