The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel Electronic Health Record (EHR)-based WIC referral and care coordination program. Specifically, this program refers children to WIC and provides a secure data connection for communication between health care providers and WIC team members. The specific aims are to: 1) Better understand the WIC referral gap by using structured EHR data to explore characteristics of ~7,000 uninsured or Medicaid-covered pediatric patients ages 0 through 4 years who: (a) report existing WIC benefits, (b) are not enrolled but desire referral, and (c) those who do not desire WIC referral despite potential eligibility; 2) Determine whether EHR-based WIC referrals result in successful enrollment; and 3) Explore the impact of providing EHR access for WIC staff on care coordination, using surveys of 100 WIC parents and 40 WIC staff members.
Start Date: October 2021
ID #: CAS079
Organization: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Project Lead: Kimberly Montez
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Keywords: Health Care, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Focus Area: Nutrition Policy & Programs
Age Groups: Pregnant women, infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 2), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
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