Implementing Quality Improvement Changes to a Free Sports Physical Program in a Rural Community.

BACKGROUND

Populations living in rural communities face significant barriers to accessing health care services. The faculty at a Midwest university previously partnered with regional school nurses to offer free, after-hours preparticipation physical examinations to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Obesity rates are high, and physical activity, essential for adolescent health, is disproportionately low in this region.

METHODS

The examinations included medical histories, visual acuities, heights and weights, blood pressures, and blood glucose levels; students with abnormal findings were referred to a local medical home for additional care.

INTERVENTIONS: We implemented quality improvement changes to this process by expanding hours, increasing the number of volunteers, and obtaining information releases from participants so that results could be sent directly to school nurses in the community.

RESULTS

The number of participants and their satisfaction were improved from prior years.

CONCLUSIONS

These changes further address health care barriers to working families and increase participation in school activities.