Experts Matter. Find Yours.

Beat the heat: Six expert tips to stay active and safe this summer

Exercising should be a priority year-round, but summer heat and humidity can challenge that commitment and make it harder to meet your daily step goal. Daniel White, associate professor of physical therapy at the University of Delaware, offers some practical tips for reporters working on stories about staying active and safe during the hottest months of the year. 1. Time it right Plan to exercise in the early morning or evening hours when temperatures are cooler. Delaware’s scenic beaches and boardwalks can be the perfect spot to catch a summer breeze or stop to enjoy the scenery while getting your steps in. 2. Prioritize hydration In the heat, people perspire more and need to replenish fluids. Always carry a water bottle with you and sip from it regularly. Dehydration can lead to lightheadedness, balance issues, muscle cramps and even heat stroke. And don’t forget sunscreen — SPF is necessary for any outdoor workout year-round. 3. Reduce the intensity It may not feel like as much of a workout, but the fact that you’re out there pounding the pavement is the most important thing. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, movement is beneficial, and the more, the better. Performing any physical activity at half intensity far outweighs not doing it at all. 4. Opt for the indoors Pickleball has become all the rage, so finding an indoor court or other activities you can enjoy in air conditioning is a great alternative. Walking on a treadmill at the gym or getting in laps at the Christiana Mall are good options too during a heatwave. 5. Dive in Swimming and water aerobics are great ways to stay active and keep cool. Facilities like the YMCA have designated lap-swim-only hours or classes. Simply splashing around can be an easy way for those just starting their fitness journey to incorporate more movement into their days. 6. Walk with purpose The bottom line is the more you walk, the healthier you’ll be. Just 3,000 steps a day is a solid start, according to White’s studies, especially for older adults. Reaching 6,000 steps has been shown to protect against arthritis complications. But when it comes to steps, the sky’s the limit. Walking at a moderate pace, where you’ve built up a sweat, will strengthen your muscles and bones and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. To arrange an interview with White, reporters can reach him directly by visiting his profile page and clicking on the contact button.

How ChristianaCare Built a Blueprint for Better Caregiver Health and Lower Costs

By Donna Antenucci, MHA, BSN, RN, and Emily Sahm, EA We know rising health care costs can feel overwhelming for both employers and employees. As Delaware’s largest private employer — with nearly 23,000 employees, spouses and dependents enrolled in our self-funded health plan — ChristianaCare faces these challenges every day. That’s why we’re committed to finding smart, innovative solutions that improve employee health while keeping costs in check. We don’t stop there — ChristianaCare partners with businesses that have an interest in providing high-quality health care for their employees while keeping costs manageable. Prioritizing preventive care The key to a healthier, more resilient workforce is tackling health issues early in order to prevent the need for costly emergency or “rescue” care. By prioritizing prevention and early intervention, we’ve made progress in improving employee health while controlling costs. In 2023, inpatient facility costs for our employees — which include hospital admissions for surgeries, medical treatments and other care requiring overnight stays — dropped by 9%. Wellness incentives and chronic disease management that shifted care to more cost-effective outpatient settings are driving these results. One of ChristianaCare’s differentiators is CareVio®, our care coordination and chronic disease management platform. CareVio provides personalized support to help employees and their families manage conditions and stay on track with preventive care. CareVio’s diabetes program, for example, has delivered remarkable results. Nearly all participants improved their blood sugar levels in 2023, with average A1c reductions of 1.7 points. Enhancing primary care and wellness programs We’ve also focused on encouraging primary care visits through collaboration between our Population Health and Total Rewards teams. Together, we designed a voluntary wellness incentive program that rewards employees and their families for healthy choices, including support for tobacco-cessation programs to help employees quit smoking and lead healthier lives. In 2023, we expanded our wellness incentive program to include primary care visits for employees and their spouses. Over the next eighteen months, primary care utilization increased over 10%, rising from 66% to 77% as of January 2025. Employees who stay connected to primary care catch health problems early and build stronger relationships with their doctors. We’ve launched programs targeting specific health needs. Our breast cancer screening initiative, focused on women ages 52 to 74, increased participation rates from 63% to 72% in 2023, exceeding our target. Additionally, the CareVio metabolic health program is helping a growing number of participants manage complex conditions with tailored support. Flexibility is essential. That’s why we created the Center for Virtual Health, which provides virtual-first primary care to more than 1,200 employees. This program makes high-quality, preventive care more accessible. Employees can fit care into their schedules while maintaining consistent support for their health. We encourage employees to stay up to date on immunizations by offering frequent vaccination events and tying participation to eligibility for the Caregiver Rewards Program payout. By making it easy and rewarding to stay protected, we’re fostering a safer, healthier workplace for everyone. Collaborative networks and cost management In January 2023, we announced the ChristianaCare Clinical Alliance, a new clinically integrated network in partnership with Highmark. Implemented in our employee health plan in July 2024, the network connects ChristianaCare-employed and community clinicians to provide evidence-based, coordinated care. Focused on improving wellness and managing chronic conditions, the Clinical Alliance is helping caregivers and their families stay healthier while reducing costly emergency visits and hospital stays. Employees who choose Clinical Alliance providers also enjoy lower deductibles for their care. Through all these initiatives, we are making a meaningful difference for our caregivers and our costs. In 2023, thanks to our focus on prevention and smarter care delivery, we kept our overall health care cost growth below the national average. Healthier employees lead to lower expenses and a more engaged, productive workforce. By showing that we value employee health, we’re creating a stronger, more resilient workplace. To learn how ChristianaCare can help you provide better care and control costs for your workforce, contact Donna Antenucci at donna.antenucci@christianacare.org. Donna Antenucci is vice president of population health operations for ChristianaCare. Emily Sahm is vice president of Total Rewards for ChristianaCare.

ChristianaCare Becomes First in Delaware to Offer CAR-T Therapy for Advanced Multiple Myeloma

ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is the first in Delaware to offer a powerful new tool in the fight against multiple myeloma—a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. That tool is a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, called CARVYKTI, which can improve treatment for adults with multiple myeloma that has returned or stopped responding to other treatments. “CAR-T cell therapy represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of multiple myeloma,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute." We are expanding access to this life-extending therapy right here in Delaware — close to home, close to hope. This is part of our ongoing commitment at the Graham Cancer Center to ensure our community has access to the most advanced cancer therapies.” Multiple myeloma is a relatively rare cancer, but it still affects a significant number of people each year. In the United States, it is estimated that around 36,110 new cases will be diagnosed in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society What is CAR-T Therapy? CAR-T cell therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. Doctors first collect the patient’s T cells, which are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. In the lab, these T cells are reprogrammed by adding a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This receptor allows the T cells to recognize specific proteins on cancer cells, acting like a navigation system to help the T cells find and attack the cancer. After this genetic modification, the reprogrammed T cells are expanded in the lab to create a larger army of cancer-fighting cells. Then, they are infused back into the patient’s body, where they go on to find and destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is approved for adults who have already tried several standard treatments, like proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators and anti-CD38 antibodies, without success. When those treatments stop working, CARVYKTI can offer a powerful new option. CAR T-cell therapy has given new hope to patients with multiple myeloma whose cancer has returned or stopped responding to other treatments. Many people see their cancer shrink or even disappear for a period of time, which can help them live longer and feel better. While the treatment can have short-term side effects, many patients report feeling stronger and having fewer symptoms once they recover. It’s not a cure, but for some, it can mean more time with loved ones and a better quality of life. “This therapy gives our patients a chance when other treatments have failed,” said Zhifu Xiang, M.D., medical oncologist at ChristianaCare Oncology Hematology. “It’s a deeply personalized approach that uses the patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer in a powerful new way. Being able to offer this locally means our patients don’t have to travel far for world-class care.” A Leader in Cell Therapy The Graham Cancer Center’s dedicated team of specialists have been offering CAR-T cell therapy for other cancer types, such as lymphoma and leukemia, since 2018. The center is also recognized by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for meeting the highest standards in safety, quality and patient care. To learn more about CAR-T cell therapy or other cancer treatments at ChristianaCare, visit christianacare.org/cancer or call the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at 302-733-HOPE (4673).

Research Matters: Targeting ‘jumping genes’ holds promise for treating age-related diseases

A growing number of clinical trials gauging the effects of inhibiting transposons, so-called “jumping genes,” have yielded encouraging results for treating Alzheimer’s and a wide range of other conditions. Vera Gorbunova, a molecular biologist at the University of Rochester whose research on the causes of aging and cancer is widely regarded as pioneering, says researchers tackling aging “need something new, and inhibiting transposons shows great promise.” Gorbunova’s comments were recently featured in Science magazine, a leading news outlet for cutting-edge research in all areas of science. Researchers say clinical trials of transposon inhibitors are important not just to identify potential treatments, but also to test whether jumping genes do, in fact, drive human diseases, as many suspect. Transposon genes are found in a diverse variety of organisms, from miniscule bacteria to humans, and they are known in biological terms as “transposable elements” because they literally jump around the genome. Their vagrancy has been implicated in illnesses such as lupus, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and aging. Gorbunova is a recognized expert in aging and cancer whose research has been featured in high-profile publications ranging from Nature to The New York Times. Reach out to Gorbunova by clicking on her profile.

Researchers laying the groundwork to eventually detect cerebral palsy via blood test

At the University of Delaware, molecular biologist Mona Batish in collaboration with Dr. Robert Akins at Nemours Children Hospital, is studying tiny loops in our cells called circular RNAs — once thought to be useless leftovers, but now believed to play an important role in diseases like cancer and cerebral palsy (CP). This is detailed in a new article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. What are circular RNAs? They’re a special type of RNA that doesn’t make proteins but instead helps control how genes are turned on and off. Because they’re stable and can be found in blood, they may help doctors detect diseases more easily. So what’s the connection to cerebral palsy? CP is the most common physical disability in children, but right now it’s diagnosed only after symptoms appear — there’s no clear-cut test for it. Batish and her team are trying to change that. Working with researchers at Nemours Children’s Health, Batish discovered that in children with CP, a certain circular RNA — circNFIX — is found at much lower levels in muscle cells. This RNA normally helps the body make an important muscle-building protein called MEF2C. When circNFIX is missing or low, MEF2C isn’t made properly, which may lead to the weakened, shorter muscles seen in CP. This is the first time researchers have shown a link between circular RNAs and human muscle development in cerebral palsy. Why does this matter? If scientists can confirm this link, it could lead to: Earlier and more accurate diagnosis of CP using a simple blood test New treatments that help improve muscle development in affected children Batish’s ultimate goal? To create a test that can spot CP at birth — or even before — giving kids a better shot at early treatment and a higher quality of life. To speak to Batish, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. 

The Road to Treating Substance Use Disorder Starts in the Primary Care Office

For a groundbreaking offering in the treatment of substance use disorders, ChristianaCare’s Family Medicine residency program team received a Wellness Hero Award in the 2024 Delaware Lt. Governor’s Wellness Leadership Challenge. ChristianaCare was recognized for creating “a comprehensive program designed to address the pressing need for behavioral health services in Delaware.” ChristianaCare’s Family Medicine residency established a substance use disorder treatment program in 2020 to identify and provide targeted substance abuse treatment to patients in need and, importantly, to train future providers in the specific and unique issues that patients with addiction often face in primary care settings. “The purpose,” said James LaRosa, M.D., associate residency program director, “is to create an eager and competent workforce of providers ready to help this population.” LaRosa, an alumnus of ChristianaCare’s Family Medicine residency, is also lead for the Family Medicine substance use disorder treatment program. “James was intentionally recruited to our program to carry the torch for this important work,” said Erin Kavanaugh, M.D., FAAFP, chair of Family and Community Medicine. “He has taken the program and department to new heights, particularly in terms of grant-funded work and educational opportunities, all anchored in dedication to comprehensive patient care and improved outcomes.” “Family medicine practitioners take a holistic approach so patients receive personalized and consistent care for better health and well-being for them and their communities,” said Anna Filip, M.D., FAAFP, director of the residency program. “With opportunities like the substance use disorder treatment program, we are preparing the next generation of doctors to treat the whole person.” At the 2024 presentation, then-Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long praised the program for “its impact on closing the gaps in treatment capacity for those with substance use disorders” and “taking measurable steps to expand access to care in our community.” The primary goal of the program is to support patients through withdrawal, LaRosa said. Patients identified for the program via ChristianaCare’s hospitals and emergency departments are connected with the Family Medicine Department to open the door to primary care. The program also provides vital social supports for these patients through the robust ChristianaCare network. “We utilize the services of our in-house social work, behavioral health and case management teams to help provide wraparound services to a population where those things are as crucial as the medical care,” LaRosa said. Third-year resident Deanna Gorgei, D.O., said she chose ChristianaCare’s Family Medicine residency for its “forward-thinking and innovative leadership” who support residents in exploring their interests in the field. One of her interests in addiction medicine. “Not only are residents like me getting this experience in how to treat different substance use disorders, but we’ve also gained exposure on how to set up a program like this,” she said. “It’s been a huge part of my training and has shaped my interest going forward.” Family medicine provides an especially effective setting to treat substance use disorders, in part because its providers are qualified to identify and treat comorbid conditions like hepatitis as well as a host of other illnesses and injuries. “Since starting the program,” said LaRosa, “we have stabilized multiple patients’ chronic medical conditions, identified and treated a patient with bladder cancer, and cured 26 cases of hepatitis C.” Combining care for substance use disorder with primary care, said Gorgei, is appealing for residents and fosters better patient experience and outcomes. “I like being able to have both opportunities,” she said. “It’s so beneficial to have addiction medicine rotate with routine primary care, because it is primary care.”

Aston University collaboration to develop injectable paste which could treat bone cancer

A £110k grant from Orthopaedic Research UK is to help to conduct the work Study is a collaboration with The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Researchers to use gallium-doped bioglass to produce a substance with anticancer and bone regenerative properties. Professor Richard Martin Aston University is collaborating in research to develop an injectable paste which could treat bone cancer. The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital has secured a £110,000 grant from Orthopaedic Research UK to conduct the work. The project will see researchers at the hospital and the University use gallium-doped bioglass to produce a substance with anticancer and bone regenerative properties. If proved effective it could be used to treat patients with primary and metastatic cancer. Gallium is a metallic element that when combined with bioactive glass can kill cancerous cells that remain when a tumour is removed. It also accelerates the regeneration of the bone and prevents bacterial contamination. A recent study led by Aston University found that bioactive glasses doped with the metal have a 99 percent success rate of eliminating cancerous cells. Dr Lucas Souza, research lab manager at the hospital’s Dubrowsky Lab is leading the project. He said : “Advances in treatment of bone cancer have reached a plateau over the past 40 years, in part due to a lack of research studies into treatments and the complexity and challenges that come with treating bone tumours. Innovative and effective therapeutic approaches are needed, and this grant provides vital funds for us to continue our research into the use of gallium-doped bioglass in the treatment of bone cancer.” Professor Richard Martin who is based in Aston University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences added: “The injectable paste will function as a drug delivery system for localised delivery of anticancer gallium ions and bisphosphonates whilst regenerating bone. Our hypothesis is that this will promote rapid bone formation and will prevent cancer recurrence by killing residual cancer cells and regulating local osteoclastic activity.” It is hoped the new approach will be particularly useful in reducing cancer recurrence and implant site infections. It is also thought that it will reduce implant failure rates in cases of bone tumours where large resections for complete tumour removal is either not possible, or not recommended. This could include incidents when growths are located too close to vital organs or when major surgery will inflict more harm than benefit. It could also be used in combination with minimally invasive treatments such as cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation to manage metastatic bone lesions. Dr Souza added: “The proposed biomaterial has the potential to drastically improve treatment outcomes of bone tumour patients by reducing cancer recurrence, implant-site infection rates, and implant failure rates leading to reduced time in hospital beds, less use of antibiotics, and fewer revision surgeries. Taken together, these benefits could improve survival rates, functionality and quality of life of bone cancer patients.” Other members of the team include the hospital’s Professor Adrian Gardner, director of research and development and Mr Jonathan Stevenson, orthopaedic oncology and arthroplasty consultant, Dr Eirini Theodosiou from Aston University and Professor Joao Lopes from the Brazilian Aeronautics Institute of Technology. ENDS About the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest specialist orthopaedic units in Europe, offering planned orthopaedic surgery to people locally, nationally, and internationally. The Trust is an accredited Veteran Aware organisation and a Disability Confident Leader. Ranked 8th in the 2024 UK Inclusive Top 50 Employers list, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is the highest-ranking NHS organisation for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital has a vibrant research portfolio of clinical trials, observational studies and laboratory studies exploring new treatment options, new approaches in rehabilitation and therapy, and new medical devices. This research is delivered by our researchers and clinicians spread across the Knowledge Hub, our home for education and research, and the Dubrowsky Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, a state-of-the-art lab opened in 2019. About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press & Communications Manager on 07941194168 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk

Annual Healthy Georgia Report looks at public health in the Peach State

The fourth edition of the “Healthy Georgia: Our State of Public Health” report has been released by the Institute of Public and Preventive Health in Augusta University’s School of Public Health. Within the 64 pages of the report is a snapshot of how healthy Georgians are compared to citizens across the 12 states that make up the Southeastern Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) and the entire United States. The 2025 edition addresses 31 health topics and has been expanded this year to include multimorbidity; long COVID-19; HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infection rates; opioid and methamphetamine drug use; suicides; and vaping. Biplab Datta, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Management, Economics, and Policy in SPH, heads up the team of IPPH faculty and staff who create the report each year. Datta credits Jen Jaremski, research associate, and Kit Wooten, public health analyst, with handling much of the work of bringing the report to life. Together, Jaremski and Wooten collected and organized all of the needed assets and organized the 64-page document, preparing it for print and the web. “Every year we strive to present data in a way that policymakers may find helpful in making policy choices,” Datta said. “There are several new topics that were added to this year’s report and some of those are concerning for the state of Georgia, particularly the communicable diseases like HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. High prevalence rates of these conditions in Georgia, compared to the rest of the U.S. and the Southeastern Region, warrant attention of the public health community.” Georgia has the second-highest rate of HIV infections in the U.S., fourth-highest rates of gonorrhea, sixth-highest for chlamydia and 13th for syphilis. Something that is also new in this year’s report is a comparison of numbers from 2019, or before the COVID-19 pandemic began, compared to after the pandemic for certain conditions. Also coming out of the pandemic, the report looks at how long COVID has affected Georgians, with the state ranking 24th in the nation for rates of long COVID. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after COVID-19 infection and is present for at least three months. On top of looking at comparisons between Georgia and the Southeast and the nation, Datta noted a clearer picture is starting to emerge concerning the difference in urban and rural areas within the state. “For several chronic conditions, like hypertension, diabetes and multimorbidity, we clearly see a striking difference between rural and urban residents of Georgia,” Datta said. Hypertension affects 44.1% of adults in rural Georgia compared to 35% in urban areas, while diabetes affects 17.5% of adults in rural Georgia compared to 12.3% of those in urban areas. Hypertension and diabetes are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which affects 12.2% of adults in rural areas compared to 8.3% of adults in urban areas of Georgia. “Hypertension and diabetes are the major risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, so these are some concerning numbers to see,” Datta said. Multimorbidity, which is when a person has multiple chronic conditions, including obesity, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, cancer, skin cancer and arthritis, affects 57.4% of adults in rural Georgia compared to 49% of adults in urban areas of the state. These rates are significantly lower than the rest of the Southeast but on par with the rest of the country. When comparing Georgia to the U.S. national average, adults in Georgia have lower rates of cancer and methamphetamine use but higher rates of childhood asthma and adult obesity. At the same time, rates of adult asthma and adult obesity among Georgians were comparable to the averages seen in the Southeast. Interestingly, while adult health insurance coverage was significantly lower than the U.S. national and Southeast Regional averages, the child health insurance coverage in Georgia was comparable to both national and regional averages. The Healthy Georgia Report is the only report of its kind in the state Looking to know more or connect with Biplab Datta, PhD? Then let us help. Dr. Datta is available to speak with media regarding this important topic. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

ChristianaCare Reduces Health Care Costs by $6.2 Million While Improving Care for Medicaid Patients

ChristianaCare’s Delaware Medicaid Partners Accountable Care Organization (ACO) has set the standard for innovative, high-quality care at lower cost for the State of Delaware’s Medicaid population. According to the most recent data available, ChristianaCare’s ACO reduced health care spending by $6.2 million in 2023 while improving care for nearly 30,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Delaware, including approximately 8,000 children. “We’re demonstrating that population health works,” said Christine Donohue-Henry, M.D., MBA, chief population health officer, ChristianaCare. “Our neighbors count on us to take care of them — and we can improve their health while also helping the state reduce health care costs. We do this by delivering high-quality care that emphasizes preventive care and proactive management of health conditions, and by investing in our population health infrastructure. “In this way, we can keep people healthier and reduce the need for them to access the most expensive kinds of care, such as emergency care and hospitalization.” ChristianaCare’s Medicaid ACO includes more than 1,900 primary and specialty care clinicians who partner with patients and families to prevent illness, manage chronic diseases and help them achieve their health goals. The ACO makes it easy for adults and children to get the screenings and treatments they need, improving overall health. ChristianaCare’s Medicaid ACO is one of four authorized by the State of Delaware and the only one to voluntarily accept downside financial risk at its launch in 2021, which means that if ChristianaCare’s Medicaid ACO is not successful in reducing cost and improving care for a particular year, the ChristianaCare ACO is required to make a payment to the state. By sharing in both savings and losses, the ACO controls state health care costs while maintaining high-quality care. Bending the Cost Curve by Focusing on High-Quality Preventive Care Alongside financial savings, ChristianaCare’s Medicaid ACO has improved care quality and worked to reduce health disparities. By focusing on preventive care, the ACO has helped adults and children get the screenings and treatment they need, leading to better health outcomes and fewer unmet needs. Since launching in 2021, ChristianaCare’s ACO has met all required quality standards and consistently improved its performance each year on key measures like diabetes management, blood pressure control and breast cancer prevention. Year over year, breast cancer screenings have increased by 4%, while patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) have shown improvement in blood pressure control. Notably, healthy blood sugar levels (HbA1c less than 8%) have also improved in patients with diabetes by 7%. In collaboration with its Medicaid health plan partners, ChristianaCare primary care and imaging teams host patient-centered health and wellness day events to increase access to care, close quality gaps and improve the overall health of the communities they serve. These events help patients get preventive screenings and services, supporting the ACO’s goals of better care and health equity. The ACO’s success is driven by its focus on caring for entire families, including addressing the needs of pregnant mothers and supporting children and adults throughout their lives, according to Rose Kakoza, M.D., MPH, senior clinical network director, ChristianaCare Clinical Alliance. Key programs include enhanced maternity care to support mothers and infants, expanded mental health services and social support programs that address food and housing needs. By integrating clinical care with social support — such as help with food and housing — the ACO is working to break cycles of poor health across generations. This approach also has practical benefits. For example, the improved mental health of a parent strengthens the family environment, supporting children’s well-being and development. “By making significant investments in population health and addressing both medical needs and the social drivers of health, we’ve not only improved health outcomes but also more effectively managed costs for Delaware’s most vulnerable residents, helping to reduce state spending,” Kakoza said. About Delaware Medicaid Partners Delaware Medicaid Partners ACO, led by ChristianaCare, uses a family-centered approach to save money and improve care for Medicaid patients. By combining medical care with social support, the ACO addresses the unique needs of Medicaid patients, improving health and promoting equity. Care coordination is provided by ChristianaCare’s CareVio®, whose team of nurses, social workers, and pharmacists help patients with serious health conditions get the care they need. CareVio uses real-time data to prevent complications that could lead to unnecessary hospital stays or emergency visits. Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, Delaware Medicaid Partners ACO aims to set an example for other states working to improve care while managing costs.

ChristianaCare Caregivers Help Our Neighbors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

More than 200 ChristianaCare caregivers and their families came together for a systemwide service project on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20 to pack supply kits for neighbors in need. Hosted by ChristianaCare’s Office of Inclusion & Diversity, caregivers united in service on our Cecil County, Newark and Wilmington campuses.  These volunteers assembled 3,500 supply kits with essential items like washcloths, dish soap and detergent for individuals transitioning into permanent housing and toiletries, journals and puzzle books for patients in treatment for cancer at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. The kits also carried inspiration. Caregivers handwrote encouraging messages that were tucked in alongside toiletries and other essentials: “You’ve got this!” “You are stronger than you know.” “This is tough. But so are you!” Other caregivers delivered the inspirations and the kits to the the Graham Cancer Center, the Union Hospital Emergency Department, New Castle County Hope Center, Inc., and other community partners. Natalie Torres, director of Inclusion & Diversity, credited ChristianaCare’s Supply Chain and Transportation departments with making sure toiletries and other supplies were available at the three campus locations and also coordinating the pickup and delivery of donations. “This service project is such a powerful reminder of how our values of love and excellence shine through in everything that we do,” Torres said. “Dr. King truly resonates with who we are as an organization. Serving our community, connecting with one another, making a difference — it’s what we do best — and we are so honored to carry on this tradition in Dr. King’s name.”