Improving Health Outcomes in Vulnerable Populations: The Medical-Legal Partnership-Colorado's Experience

摘要

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) add legal professionals, trained specifically to tackle health-related social needs (HRSN), to the health care team. We evaluated the impact on health outcomes and health care utilization of a MLP housed in a large federally qualified health center in Colorado (MLP-CO). Clients screened for I-HELP (Income, Housing, Employment, Legal status, Personal stability) needs were surveyed at baseline and six months post-enrollment. Reasons for legal aid were legal immigration status (46.5), income (30.8), personal/family stability (14.8), housing (4.8), and education (1.2). Overall, 61.4 attributed great/moderate improvements in their health care experience to the MLP-CO. Statistically significant improvements were noted for days with poor physical/ mental health, and feelings of stress/worry. There was a reduction in emergency department visits, hospitalization days, and missed appointments, but only the latter was statistically significant. In conclusion, MLPs are a promising innovation to achieve the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's quadruple aim.