People in Vermont who have disabilities experience poorer health outcomes compared to people who do not have a disability. For example, people with disabilities are four times as likely to have cardiovascular disease, three times as likely to have diabetes and almost twice as likely to use tobacco products or have had six or more teeth extracted. This is significant, considering nearly 25% of adults in Vermont report having some type of disability(1).
We would like to learn from you about what it is like to provide care to patients with disabilities in your practice. We would like to hear about what’s going well, what might be challenging, and what you might be interested in learning more about. This survey is anonymous and we’re hoping to hear from people in all sorts of health care fields who directly interact with patients! (For example, dental professional, nurse practitioners, mammography technologists, primary care physicians, etc.). Please feel free to share this survey with your networks and colleagues. Your time and responses are greatly appreciated.
Responses will be aggregated into a summary report. Individual responses are anonymous and will not be reported. Your feedback will actively inform the Program’s efforts to develop and hold professional development opportunities that will be offered in 2020.
For questions about this survey, contact Allie Perline, Chronic Disease and Disability Program Coordinator, Vermont Department of Health: Allison.Perline@vermont.gov or 802-951-0157
Source: 1. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017
Defining disability: For the purpose of this survey, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of disability: “A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).” There are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s vision, movement, thinking, remembering, learning, communicating, hearing, mental health, and social relationships.