It is widely accepted that inefficient care is both more costly and often less effective, no matter who the patient. Similarly, poor quality care, even if efficient, costs more in the end. These findings are much more applicable to people with disabilities than people without disabilities. Yet the term “healthy people with disabilities” continues to be viewed as an oxymoron by some health care experts and providers.
PATH (Promoting Access, Transition & Health) provides one to one consulting to individuals with disabilities, empowering them to return to active healthy lives. Northeast Passage, through its Health Promotion program, now offers seven primary services to its clients based on assessed need.
*Wellness Education Series - including risk management for prevention of most common secondary conditions, nutrition, stress management, self advocacy
* Fitness Program – direct strength and wellness programming.
* Functional Skill Development - development of advanced functional skills including transfers, self-direction and wheelchair mobility.
* Community Re-Integration in Home Community - exploring home community, identifying accessible restaurants, stores, attractions, and places of business.
* Resource & Network Development - learning the process for tracking down resources, including support agencies, accessibility guidelines, adapted recreation programs, adapted equipment resources, low interest loans, transportation etc.
* Individual and Family Recreation Skill Development - identifying recreation activities of interest and redeveloping the skills to participate independently.
* Peer Advisor Program – establishing a network of peer contacts
The initial PATH Project focused on people with spinal cord injuries, following them for one year post-discharge, working towards independence and mastery of the addressed program components. Through these interventions, we have shown that people with disabilities can, and will, lead active and healthier lives when given the skills to participate fully and independently and consequently decreasing health care visits and costs.
PATH has continued these efforts, opening up this service to health care providers in New England. We have also begun to implement this program with many other people with physical disabilities, outside SCI’s, offering them the same effective service.
Currently, PATH is offered to clients as a value added service to patients of Martin’s Point Health Care and Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital. Northeast Passage also visits privately with interested clients and is working to expand this program.
For more information on the PATH Health Promotion program contact David Lee, CTRS at the Northeast Passage office.
