Health Mentor Perspectives on (In)Effective Healthcare Teams: Insights to Inform Care Coordination for Chronically Ill Populations

Authors

• Arianna Baffa, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Kelly Tran, Thomas Jefferson University
• Jane Tobias, DNP, CRNP-PC, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Nethra S. Ankam, MD, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Maria Brucato, PhD, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2-2-2026

Academic Year

2025-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 Scholarly Inquiry (SI) Research Project Symposium.

Abstract

Background

- Disability and chronic illness are a major public health burden in the US 

• More than a quarter of Americans report a functional disability¹
• ~129 million Americans have at least one major chronic disease² 

- Interprofessional teamwork and coordination of care have potential to support the quintuple aim of healthcare³

- Patients with multiple chronic conditions and lower confidence in managing their own health experience more care coordination challenges⁴

- Patient perspectives are needed to improve healthcare services for chronically ill populations, but limited awareness of team approaches in care presents a methodological challenge to data collection⁵

- The Health Mentors Program (HMP)⁶ provides opportunity to conduct research with people living with chronic illness who have a greater potential to be aware of team approaches to their healthcare

Recommended Citation

Baffa, Arianna; Tran, Kelly; Tobias, DNP, CRNP-PC, Jane; Ankam, MD, Nethra S.; and Brucato, PhD, Maria, "Health Mentor Perspectives on (In)Effective Healthcare Teams: Insights to Inform Care Coordination for Chronically Ill Populations" (2026). Phase 1. Paper 9.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/si_phr_2028_phase1/9

Language

English