Ten newly trained and now computer savvy volunteers heard themselves called medical pioneers for their participation in a unique project aimed at changing the way primary care is delivered and how patients interact with their health care providers by using a computer and the Internet. The official launch of the Overtown "Health Education and Access Through an Information Technology Utilization Project (HEAT-IT-UP)" took place on October 14 the Jefferson Reaves Sr. Health Center in Overtown. The primary care clinic serves as the family medicine residency training site and is also a United Health Foundation Center of Excellence.
"You are pioneers and on the cutting edge of changing the way health care is delivered in this country," said Robert Schwartz, M.D., professor and chair of family medicine and community health and project director. "This project would not have been possible without your willingness to take part and you will now influence how millions of people across the country will receive their health care in the future."
In all, 25 participants with type 2 diabetes will participate in self-management of their disease through a Web-based program that will allow them to communicate directly with their health care providers on a regular basis with the goal of increasing efficacy for self-management and building the diabetes care team around their participation.
"When it comes to optimal diabetes outcomes, self-management is essential, but patients in the demographic at Jefferson Reaves are least likely to participate in self-management activities such as improved diet, exercise, medication compliance, and even attending medical visits as scheduled," said John Ryan, Dr.P.H., associate professor of family medicine and community health and project co-director. "One key to better self-management is a strong doctor-patient relationship, and we hope through this web-based program that we will be able to build that relationship without the normal barriers that often get in the way."
The Department of Family Medicine partnered with Microsoft Corporation, Resolute Solutions Corporation, the city of Miami and the United Health Foundation on the project.
"We've invited you to this kick-off so you could meet the partners working behind the scenes to get this program up and running," Ryan told the gathering. "A special shout-out for David Bonilla, a computer instructor with the city's Elevate Miami program who was responsible for making all of our participants computer savvy." And with those words, a huge cheer and applause came from every participant.
"When I came in I looked like a big dummy when it came to the computer," said Raymond Williams, one of the participants. "Now we are almost computer experts thanks to David's fine instruction and patience."
If the participants run into any additional computer problems, someone from a team of youth community health workers from Booker T. Washington Senior High School will be sent to their homes to help. That's the whole idea: to bring health care directly into a patient's home.
"I am so excited to be taking part in this program because too many times I skipped appointments, because my home is far away from the clinic and I didn't feel like driving, and now I won't have to feel guilty any more about missing my appointments," said Rhonda Bellue. "The computer instruction was incredible -- David really helped all of us from different levels get comfortable with the computers."
Using their computers, the participants will be able to download their glucose levels and learn immediately what the results mean, e-mail a nurse with any questions, and even initiate instant messaging with a health care provider. In addition, the Web site provides free educational resources, including healthy recipes and tips for exercising.
At the end of the kick-off event each participant received their own computer donated by the city of Miami.
