PC1161: Health Systems Addressing Pediatric Health Indicators in Population Health: An Obesity Case Study

Purpose/Objectives: In 2015, The National Academy of Medicine proposed the Vital Signs, which advocated for health care systems to be accountable for the health of their community. Based on this concept, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Launched Pediatric Vital Signs (PVS), a population health initiative focused on eight child-health indicators in Franklin county. One of those indicators is childhood obesity. In 2019, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31% in 10 – 17 years olds in Franklin County. Childhood obesity is associated with co-morbidities, e.g., dyslipidemia, prediabetes, cardiovascular disease and risk of persistence to adulthood.

Design/Methods: The approach for the PVS-obesity is centered on clinic-community integration, driven by selected clinic and community strategies. Quality improvement method is adopted as the evaluation framework. Thus, data sources selected are accessible and responsive to strategies employed.

Results: Clinic strategies planned include medical provider education using the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) platform, a resource repository, online patient and family education, and use of digital technology to bridge clinic-community integration. Completed ECHO training for > 40 clinicians, with increase in knowledge and self-efficacy. Community strategies involve school-based physical activity counseling, increasing food access options, nutrition education, cooking classes, policy, and community events in under-resourced neighborhoods. Integration strategies focused on partnerships with a public health insurer, non-profit organization to address food access and advocacy, local health department activities and coalition building. To improve food access, 2600 USDA Food to Families Box program in response to food insecurity were distributed during the pandemic over 6-8 months, financial support provided to a mobile food market and produce perks were underwritten to increase fruit/vegetable intake for SNAP participants. The PVS approach is being collectively studied using a pilot cohort of children with BMI ≥85th %ile tracked over 6 months. Process and outcomes measures will be presented.

Conclusion/Discussion: The PVS initiative offers a pragmatic approach for health care systems to bridge the gap between clinical care and community resources to address obesity and improve quality of life for children in the community.