The Charger Blog
As an intern with the New Haven Health Department, Dr. Niharika Pathak ’23 MHA helped educate and protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is confident her team’s efforts helped increase vaccination rates and promoted healthcare access during a particularly critical time in public health.
July 11, 2023
Over the past few months, as a City of New Haven Health Department injury prevention intern, I have been involved in two important projects aimed at improving healthcare access and addressing the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
The first project focused on raising awareness about the reasons why people in New Haven County were not getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, many people remain hesitant to get vaccinated due to concerns about side effects, misinformation, and other factors.
To address this issue, we developed an outreach campaign that leveraged social media, community events, and other channels to educate people about the benefits of vaccination and to dispel common myths and misconceptions. Through these efforts, we aimed to build trust and confidence in the vaccines and encourage more people to get vaccinated.
In addition to this project, I also contributed to an electronic health record initiative focused on improving healthcare accessibility. The goal of this project was to identify and assist people who may face barriers to receiving healthcare services, whether due to financial constraints, lack of transportation, or other challenges.
By leveraging technology and innovative approaches, we developed a platform that enabled people to access healthcare resources and services from the comfort of their homes. This platform included features such as virtual consultations, online appointment scheduling, and access to electronic health records.
By making healthcare more convenient and accessible, we hope to empower individuals to take control of their health and to access the care they need. Overall, both projects represent important steps toward creating a more equitable and accessible healthcare system.
I am proud of the great impact our projects had on the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team identified the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy in New Haven County and developed targeted awareness programs and educational initiatives to help overcome these barriers. We also had the opportunity to present our findings at a TEDx talk, further spreading our message. Our efforts resulted in increased vaccination rates and access to healthcare for the community through an electronic health record project.
We provided online consultations and resources to help overcome challenges such as transportation and financial constraints. I believe that working on these initiatives has improved my strategic thinking and brought me closer to achieving my goals. These projects allowed me to make a positive impact on the community and to develop effective solutions to complex problems. I am excited to continue building on these experiences and to make a difference in the world.
Dr. Niharika Pathak ’23 MHA is a new graduate of the University’s Master of Healthcare Administration program.
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