ROCHESTER — Two city health centers were recently presented with Robert Oppenheimer Impact Awards by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation for their work in serving urban populations.
Dr. Thomas L. Campbell of Highland Family Medicine and the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center were recognized for their success in reducing depression in targeted patients by more than 50 percent, according to information from the foundation. The award recognizes individuals and teams who improve the health status of Rochester residents, including the care of patients whose health needs have not been met because of race, ethnicity or income.
With funding from the foundation, the Highland Center and Jordan’s Brown Square created a three-year program to treat depression in low-income and minority patients. Campbell led the program at the two sites and focused on mothers of newborns and patients with diabetes, chronic pain or a history of depression. Medical assistants screened 9,000 patients, and a quarter received a high depression score. Those 1,265 patients were treated by depression-care managers through a variety of services, and half overcame their symptoms.
