RESUMO
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, and much of this burden can be attributed to lifestyle and behavioral risk factors. Lifestyle medicine is an approach to preventing and treating lifestyle-related chronic disease using evidence-based lifestyle modification as a primary modality. NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal public health care system in the United States, is a national pioneer in incorporating lifestyle medicine systemwide. In 2019, a pilot lifestyle medicine program was launched at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue to improve cardiometabolic health in high-risk patients through intensive support for evidence-based lifestyle changes. Analyses of program data collected from January 29, 2019 to February 26, 2020 demonstrated feasibility, high demand for services, high patient satisfaction, and clinically and statistically significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors. This pilot is being expanded to 6 new NYC Health + Hospitals sites spanning all 5 NYC boroughs. As part of the expansion, many changes have been implemented to enhance the original pilot model, scale services effectively, and generate more interest and incentives in lifestyle medicine for staff and patients across the health care system, including a plant-based default meal program for inpatients. This narrative review describes the pilot model and outcomes, the expansion process, and lessons learned to serve as a guide for other health systems.
RESUMO
CONTEXT: Millions of people living in the United States are excluded from health insurance due to income or immigration status. These 2 groups are more likely to lack access to health care or a regular source of care. PROGRAM: NYC Health + Hospitals is addressing this need with NYC Care, a health care access program. The program is designed to be the single point of access for uninsured care citywide and includes a membership card, a 24-hour customer service line, and direct access to primary care medical homes. Health care is coordinated across NYC Health + Hospitals using integrated electronic referrals and a medical record system. IMPLEMENTATION: The program uses a single enrollment process across safety net health care resources of NYC Health + Hospitals. A 24-hour call center was established to answer questions, make primary care appointments, and make warm handoffs to enrollment staff. Once eligibility is confirmed and patients are enrolled, they are mailed a membership card, a member handbook, and offered a primary care appointment. A multipronged public awareness campaign including citywide, multilingual marketing and outreach via community-based organizations was essential to build trust. OUTCOMES: NYC Care had 119 203 members at the end of June 2023. Fifty-eight percent had not seen a primary care doctor in the NYC Health + Hospitals system in the prior 36 months. In total, 76 439 had completed 1 or more primary care visits; 53.1% of enrollees with diabetes had improved hemoglobin A 1c , and 73.4% of enrollees with hypertension had improved blood pressure control after 6 months of enrollment. DISCUSSION: NYC Care demonstrates that municipalities can improve access to care for the uninsured by simplifying steps to affordable health care services, connecting patients directly to patient-centered medical homes, and improving the patient experience. A comprehensive public awareness campaign is also crucial.