Health Equity Pilot Program (HEPP)

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In December 2020, UI Health was invited to participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) Health Equity Hospital Quality Incentive Pilot Program (HEPP). As part of the program, BCBSIL offered a targeted infusion of financial resources to improve the healthcare delivery system to provide equal opportunity for health and well-being for patients served by the UI Health System. The HEPP focuses on both patient-facing initiatives and physician focused initiatives.

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Shark Tank of Quality

Shark Tank of Quality Call for Proposals was launched April 2022.

Program Framework:

Proposals focused on improving a quality metric or addressing an existing health disparity (Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer, Maternal Health, etc)
Proposals had discrete deliverables.
Utilized a Multidisciplinary approach
Each proposal included a plan for expansion & sustainability

Funding:

10 proposals was selected for funding. 4 of the funded proposals was selected to participate in the Inaugural UI Health Shark Tank of Quality for an additional funding opportunity of $10,000. 7 additional proposals were selected to receive additional funding from HEPP.

Winners

Patient Health Technology Literacy (Digital Health Hub) – Bhrandon Harris and Kunal Patel

Proposals approved for funding under quality

Educational Tools to Increase Mobility to Reduce VTE- John Quigley/ Coleen Smith (Shark Tank Finalist)
Improving Healthcare Experience for Patients with Limited English Proficiency Tochukwu Ndukwe /Paul Chan (Shark Tank Finalist)
Operating Room Safety & Communication – Aarti Raghavan/ Shirley Belocura (Shark Tank Finalist)
Colorectal Surgery Patient Nutrition – Gerald Gantt/ Mary Niewinski
Health Literacy in Urology – Daniel Moreira/ Kelly Banks-Enorense
Language & Educational Barriers for Perioperative Materials – Mark Gonzalez/ Benjamin Goldberg
Pressure Injury Risk Assessment/ Objective detection of skin concerns – Clive Horrocks
Antepartum Patient Satisfaction, postpartum depression – Gaby Fuchs/ Jessica George
Maximizing Patient Independence through use of equipment – Nexhip Cuca/ Joseph Mendoza

Proposals approved for other HEPP funding

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening – Stacie Geller/ Hunter Holt
Lung Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment – Chris Kapp – project lead
Improving Bariatric Surgery Care in Minorities – Mario Masrur/ Reed Berger
Management Pediatric Overweight & Obesity – Andrew Kreppel/ Jalene Shoener
Access to Care and Hypertension Management – P. Charlie Inboriboon/ Rosemary Slotkus/ Steve Brown
Demographic & Social Factors Impacting Access to Surgical Care – Benjamin Goldberg/ Gautam Malhotra
Using (AI) Technology with Diabetic patients – R.V. Paul Chan/ Angelica Scanzera/ Cameron Beversluis

Publications