Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1482519
Should hospitalization or emergency ser v ices be necessa r y, a pedestria n bridge gives immediate access to Upstate Universit y Hospita l. The bridge a lso a l lows Institute clinicia ns to fol low up w it h ho s pit a l i ze d pa t ient s i n a timely manner. SERVICES FOR BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING Behaviora l hea lth services will a lso be available on-site. In the event patients present w it h behav iora l hea lt hca re needs, they can visit each clinic's on-site beh av iora l hea lt h profes sion a l — a va lued and much needed development for clinicians. For example, the Joslin Diabetes Center, the largest clinic within the Nappi Wellness Institute, is housed on the fifth floor, and behaviora l hea lth is likely to be an important part of care. "Diabetes is often a chronic, lifelong condition that carries a heav y menta l he a lt h bu r den for m a ny pa t ient s ," says Marisa Desimone, MD, Associate Medical Director of the Joslin Diabetes Center. "Beyond diabetes, lots of people are struggling after spending two and a half years facing the worldwide stressors of the pandemic and other issues." The Institute a lso will provide edu- cationa l spaces for well-being classes, nutrition counseling, cooking lessons, community lectures and other hea lth a nd wellness lea rning oppor tunities. As equity in hea lth ca re ta kes center sta ge, socia l determina nts of hea lth have become a major focus. According to Dr. Tucker, population health factors guided the creation of the Institute and its ser vices, including drop-off, va let parking and covered bus stops across the street. Upstate Ambassadors will persona lly g reet patients at the door and arrange for an escort to take them to appointments if needed. " T h o s e t o u c h e s a r e a bi g d e a l ," Dr. Tucker says. "For vulnerable patients, these can make the difference between coming to a healthcare appointment and not being able to do so." FEEDBACK MATTERS Though population health inspired the Institute, those who will be working there played major roles in ensuring it also met provider needs. Hundreds of individuals assisted in the development of the Institute, including a physician a dv i sor y com m it t ee wh ich worked alongside nurses, business and market- ing executives, hospital administration, security personnel, and more. The physician advisory committee's influence is evident in the exam rooms. When physician leaders examined the desks designed for exam rooms, they agreed they were aesthetica lly pleas- ing but immediately recog nized they weren't f u nc t ion a l . T h at phy sicia n feedback helped the architects create an updated plan featuring large, ha lf- moon-shaped desks that allow clinicians to face patients while ta lking to them. Additionally, computer screens mounted on the desks move easily to meet the speci f ic ergonom ic needs of d i f fer- ent providers. In t he ger iatr ic cli n ic, physicia ns recommended table height adjustments to ma ke it ea sy for wheelcha irs to fit underneath. Pla ns to develop mobile work s t at ion s i n t he pe d i at r ic a rea ch a n ged when prov ider s not ed t he potentia l risk for children climbing on and damaging them. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES To ensure continuum of care between providers at the Nappi Wellness Institute and other Upstate locations, all services " We want to be of service to the community and I think we can do that with this facility — not just with the building, which is special, but with all of our services coming together in a cohesive, comprehensive way." — NANCY DAOUST, EdD, FACHE, LNHA, CHIEF AMBULATORY OFFICER AT UPSTATE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Upstate Nappi Longevity Institute Groundbreaking 0 8