Able News — In what is being called a significant investment in the disability community, Independence Care System (ICS) was named the recipient of a $200K New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) grant to further develop a Center of Excellence in Primary Care for People with Physical Disabilities in partnership with New York City Health and Hospitals (H+H), the largest community hospital system in the country.

The NYHealth grant recognizes the vital role primary care plays in maintaining health for people with physical disabilities. The funding from NYHealth will allow ICS and H+H to work collaboratively in a primary care clinic in Woodhull Hospital to directly understand the specific care needs of people with physical disabilities. Funding will also allow them to create a model of care with crucial feedback on their complex needs.

The comprehensive project will ensure for significant, effective data collection to establish what constitutes quality primary care to reduce health disparities and ensure for accessible healthcare for people with disabilities. In turn, this will help in establishing important trainings for staff to provide disability competent care, as well as the development of a curriculum and materials for healthcare professionals to deliver equitable, quality care.

Previously, with earlier funding from NYHealth, ICS developed “A Blueprint for Improving Access to Primary Care for Adults with Physical Disabilities,” a report on standards for primary care, patient-centered care, and ambulatory care featuring in-depth interviews and focus groups with people with disabilities, physicians, administrators, and policy experts.

“We commend NYHealth for recognizing the importance of our center as an investment in the disability community,” said ICS President and CEO Regina Martinez-Estela. “This grant will allow us to focus on research to better understand the needs of people with disabilities and to work toward getting them consistent, life-saving quality primary care from healthcare providers. This funding will also help us further the health, mobility and independence — ICS’ three foundational pillars — of people with disabilities for the advancement of health equity in this community.”

To address barriers and challenges to primary care for people with physical disabilities, in 2019, ICS launched the Primary Care Program for People with Physical Disabilities with crucial funding from the New York City Council. With a dedicated team of physicians and administrators from H+H, ICS is leading a ground-breaking project to improve access to competent primary care for people with disabilities by working with patients and their providers to understand the accommodation needs of patients and the training gap for providers.

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