Praphul Joshi, Lamar University

1. Covid19 Crisis: Implementing a Health Care
Coordination Program in Southeast Texas
NSSA 2020 Online Conference
Praphul Joshi, Lamar University

2. Covid19 Pandemic
• Started in China and very soon spread to every continent
• Every state in the US has confirmed cases
• ALL counties in Southeast Texas now has confirmed cases
• The numbers keep growing everyday
• For this presentation we define Southeast Texas to include the
counties of Orange, Jefferson, Chambers, Hardin, Newton and Jasper
(east of Houston metropolitan area and west of Louisiana)

3. Covid19 Cases in Southeast Texas
(As of April 2, 2020)
• COVID-19 Positive
Tests: 92 Fatalities: 3
• Jefferson County: 40 Fatal: 2
• Beaumont: 25 Fatal: 2
• Port Arthur: 9
• Groves: 1
• Nederland: 3
• China/Nome: 1
• Fannett/LaBelle: 1
• Orange County: 16
• Bridge City: 2
• Mauriceville: 1
• Orange: 4
• Orangefield: 3
• Vidor: 6
• Hardin County: 15 Fatal: 1
• Lumberton: 11
• Silsbee: 4
• Tyler County: 2
• Hillister: 1
• Outside city limits: 1
• Jasper County: 3
• Jasper: 1
• Buna: 2
• Newton County: 1
• Wiergate: 1
• Chambers County: 11
• Liberty County: 4

4. Aims of Care Coordination Model
• Increase access to care
• Close gaps in insurance coverage
• Link people to needed health and human services
• Promote collaborative and coordinated care
• Increase patient navigation
• Improve the delivery of services
• Improve health outcomes

5. Care Coordination Model (CCM)
• Care coordination programs connect individuals to health and human
services
• Coordination models are successful with early detection, screenings,
treatment and educational interventions.
• Mental health component is an integral part of the coordination
model

6. Implementing CCM for Covid19 Crisis
• Expanded screening network to increase testing
• Free screenings for uninsured and undocumented
• Education of patients, general population, health care workers and
essential service operators on preventing the spread and self-
protection
• Data-driven decision making process to include best practice
approaches for early detection and treatment

7. Educational Intervention
• Students from Lamar University developing tailored public health
educational materials that can be distributed to the following audiences:
• Fast food restaurants along the highways
• Gas stations along the highways
• Sanitary workers
• For shoppers at grocery stores
• Employees of grocery stores
• The materials currently at development include brochures, flyers, tabletop
materials and flashcards

8. Analysis of Screening and Intervention DATA
• Analysis of commonly presenting symptoms for those undergoing
positive screening for Covid19
• Results from symptoms analysis will be used to generate flashcards
for health care workers for easy assessment of patients needing initial
review based on local data
• Clinical interventions have shown mixed results across the world on
different populations. The combination of interventions that best
work in Southeast Texas will be documented for use by hospitals

9. Securing of Personal Protective Equipment
• Currently – stockpiles for PPE including N95 masks, body gowns and face
shields are at acute shortage
• A survey is being implemented for needs assessment of PPE in health
care settings, law enforcement personnel, first responders and social
workers.
• Partnerships with community organizations and non-profits in Southeast
Texas
• As of April 2nd, two boxes of N95 masks have been secured and
additional materials are being procured. These supplies will be
distributed through local public health departments.

10. Recovery Efforts
• Southeast Texas Public Health Institute will be working on
coordination model to implement the following recovery efforts:
Teams are being formulated to work on the proposals to focus on:
• Extensive Data Analytics
• Mental health counseling and PTSD efforts
• Chronic disease self management efforts through coordinated approach
• Training and professional development of health care professionals for
handling non-Covid related patients past the acute crisis.

11. Conclusion
• We are still in the initial phases of the Covid19 crisis – the end is far
• Vaccine development and mass deployment is still about two years
for community implementation
• Shutdown / postponement of regular health care services (non-Covid)
will lead to years of recovery efforts
• Coordinated efforts are very critical for community development

12. Thank you NSSA
Contact: pjoshi@lamar.edu