Integrating Virtual Home Assistant Use into Prisma health SeniorCare PACE Participants' Care Plans

Drs. Cindy Corbett, Kate Jones, Shaun Owens, and Mike Parmer were awarded a seed grant from the Health Sciences Center at Prisma Health and its academic partners for their research titled 'Integrating Virtual Home Assistant Use into Prisma health SeniorCare PACE Participants' Care Plans." Building on a prior feasibility study, they will use Amazon Echo (aka Alexa) to pilot test an intervention that integrates and tailors Alexa activities with study participants' PACE care plans to supplement PACE interventions that are delivered face-to-face. Alexa activities that support participants physical function, mental health, and safety will be used. 

Implementation of Medical Homes for Evidence Based Care of Adolescents, and Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Hydroxyurea Adherence through Motivational Interviewing (HATMI).

Dr. Lori Vick is completing the second year of a two-year diversity supplement grant from the NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In this project, the PI is using motivational interviewing to assess its impact on adherence to the medication hydroxyurea (HU), a therapeutic medication used to reduce sickle cell pain crisis, organ damage, and hospitalizations. The prime/parent award was granted to Dr. Abdullah Kutlar, MD, Director of the Augusta University Sickle Cell Center and Dr. Robert Gibson, Research Director at the Medical College or Georgia, Augusta University. Project title: Implementation of Medical Homes for Evidence Based Care of Adolescents, and Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Hydroxyurea Adherence through Motivational Interviewing (HATMI).

She is a project developer and chapter ambassador for a new career pipeline project funded by the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). The Midlands of South Carolina Black Nurses Association (MSCBNA) is a sustaining partner in this endeavor. The goal of the project is to increase racial and gender diversity in the profession of nursing by starting to engage elementary students in the activities of nursing. This enrichment program will contain three modules that students will complete during a semester. Dr. Martha Dawson, President of NBNA, initiated the project.

Communication Exchange Patterns of Pregnancy-Related Substance Use Disorder on Twitter During COVID-19 Pandemic

Drs. Phyllis Raynor and Dezhi Wu were awarded an ACORN Center small grant to qualitatively analyze Twitter communications to better understand social perception of substance use among pregnant women. Based on extracted tweets they will explore communication patterns, risky health perceptions, sentiment, and maternal and fetal health outcomes. The results will serve to inform clinicians, public health officials, and policy makers on intentional messaging needed to prevent substance use in this vulnerable population.