Promising Practices
The Promising Practices database informs professionals and community members about documented approaches to improving community health and quality of life.
The ultimate goal is to support the systematic adoption, implementation, and evaluation of successful programs, practices, and policy changes. The database provides carefully reviewed, documented, and ranked practices that range from good ideas to evidence-based practices.
Learn more about the ranking methodology.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Goal: Baylor Scott & White started TelePsych because many of its hospitals do not have any psychologists or psychiatrists on staff. The Hillcrest hospital in particular has seen an increase in patients needing acute mental health care. Its location next to the highway and the dearth of other trauma centers means that the hospital receives 1-2 patients per day with acute mental health needs. Hillcrest has licensed medical social workers in the Emergency Department but struggled without an actual psychologist or psychiatrist available. Their goal in implementing TelePsych was to move mental health patients through the continuum of care efficiently and with empathy.
Impact: The hospital staff at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest has been very impressed with the implementation and ease of use of the TelePsych process and system. Patient satisfaction has increased and staff are able to move patients through the next level of care more efficiently.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Cancer
Goal: The goal of this program is to improve the collection and utilization of cancer data in Texas.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Physical Activity, Adults
Goal: To facilitate behavior change among overweight adults that leads to sustained weight loss.
Impact: Those who use Text4Diet are exposed to customized advice regarding healthy behavior changes. Participants on average saw an average 6-pound weight loss during a four-month use period. This is a statistically significant difference from weight loss in the usual care comparison group.
Filed under Evidence-Based Practice, Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases, Teens, Adults, Women, Urban
Goal: Text4Health aims to improve immunization rates in urban, underserved, low-income populations via text messaging.
Filed under Effective Practice, Economy / Employment
Goal: The goal of this program is to increase entry-level employee retention, promote skill building for employee success, and reduce employee absenteeism and turnover.
Filed under Good Idea, Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants, Children
Goal: The goal of this website is to provide younger children with basic information about acid rain and help them form a foundation of knowledge about, and an interest for, a variety of environmental issues.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Family Planning, Teens, Women, Urban
Goal: This program aimed to improve birth and early child outcomes among high-risk pregnant and parenting adolescents.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Wellness & Lifestyle, Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The Coalition's purpose is to improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans through the implementation of nationally recognized peer-reviewed guidelines for physicians and patient self-management.
Filed under Effective Practice, Health / Other Conditions, Adults, Older Adults
Goal: The Arthritis Self-Management Program is a group workshop that educates individuals with rheumatic diseases on techniques to help them manage their disease and live more active lives.
Filed under Good Idea, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Goal: The goal of this program is to provide a resource and referral service that could meet the needs of lower-income employees who might not be well served under a typical employee assistance program.