Collaborating toward equity in Pennsylvania: The Age-Friendly Care, PA project

To collaboratively implement the age-friendly health systems framework, known as the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility, at The Primary Health Network (PHN), a federally qualified health center.

Data were collected from PHN electronic medical records (EMRs) for individuals over age 65 from December 30, 2019 to December 24, 2021 and from Project ECHO© attendance and evaluation surveys.

The telementoring educational program, Project ECHO©, was used to engage PHN health care professionals working in rural areas of Pennsylvania to incorporate the 4Ms into their practice starting with the annual wellness visit (AWV). Project ECHO© was launched at three primary care sites. After 18 months, it was then disseminated to an additional 18 sites creating pilot and comparison groups. Outcomes included codesigned patient process metrics using EMR data and project ECHO© participant data.

EMR data were generated by system reports created by PHN's quality assurance program manager. Project ECHO© data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools. Outcomes were aggregated, analyzed for trends over time, and compared between groups.

All nine process outcomes increased from baseline to follow-up at the three initial sites, ranging from 4% to 43% g. At year two, the three initial sites had higher rates on AWVs (pilot 24%, comparison 12%; p < 0.0001), Advance Care Planning (New on file, pilot 8%, comparison 2%; Discussed with patient, pilot 18%, comparison 13%; Patient declined, pilot 0%, comparison 0%; p = 0.0001), Dementia Screening (pilot 24%, comparison 12%; p < 0.0001), Fall Risk Management (pilot 43%, comparison 10%; p < 0.0001), and Mobility Goal (pilot 19%, comparison 9%; p < 0.0001); and lower rates on High-Risk Medication Elimination (pilot 54%, comparison, 63%, p < 0.02).

Access to high-quality geriatric care for rural older adults can be improved by increasing health care professionals' knowledge of the 4Ms, beginning with its incorporation into the AWV.