A 45 year-old refugee from Bhutan has severe depression and needs form completed for citizenship application
An elderly woman with serious medical problems and no health insurance relies on a free clinic and a multidisciplinary care team to navigate our complex healthcare system. Students learn from her the importance of social support, culture and faith for recovery and wellness.
The importance of home environment and social support is highlighted in this case of an elderly woman with frequent falls. Good communication and coordination of providers and caregivers coupled with community resources are vital to help her live independently in the community.
Postpartum depression, social support and community resources are explored in this case of a four-month-old baby with weight faltering. Working with parents who refuse vaccination for their children is another aspect of caring for this baby and her mother.
A focus on structural racism is important to understand a patient’s struggle on hemodialysis and as a root cause of racial health inequities. This promising approach is a first step toward health equity and improving population health.
A young man with sickle cell disease depends on family members, healthcare professionals and community support to navigate the healthcare system and social services as an adult with a chronic illness. Effective and holistic healthcare transitions could align care with his values and priorities and promote shared decision-making.
Discharge planning became complicated for a woman admitted with altered mental status, hypoglycemia and unexplained expressive aphasia. Taking time and efforts to explore a patient’s values, beliefs and psycho-social background as well as post discharge home visit ensured patient-centered care and good outcomes.
A quadriplegic patient struggles with frequent admissions and hospitalizations stemming from problems with healthcare navigation, housing and social support while his doctors and care team are at risk for burnout when trying to address his psychosocial needs.
For this elderly man with diabetes and Charcot foot who was already struggling with financial and environmental stressors, bereavement can cause further decline in health status and heighten his sense of social isolation
Intimate partner violence
A 41-year-old woman suffers from severe physical pain secondary to pelvic fractures caused by a motor vehicle accident and mental pain inflicted by her husband
Navigating homelessness and psychiatric illness
A man struggles with chronic osteomyelitis from diabetic foot ulcer complicated by schizophrenia and chronic homelessness
Asthma triggers
A young man with asthma and anxiety finds relief from a stressful work and family life. Through his journey, we explore the structural and social determinants of asthma, anxiety, obesity and chronic stress
An immigrant navigating the pandemic
This is a story of escalating healthcare utilization amidst the Covid-19 pandemic by a man recently emigrated from Guatemala with multiple complaints including recurrent unexplained abdominal pain