Juliette Fromm Spelman, MD, BS
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine)Cards
About
Research
Overview
Dr. Spelman's focus has been on optimizing primary care delivery to veterans, using a population health approach.
Recent quality improvement projects include improving rates of colorectal cancer screening using FIT, integration of opioid use disorder treatment into primary care, improving rates of vaccine acceptance, and facilitating transition to virtual care modalities.
Additional academic work focuses on improving care to the new generation of Veterans from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, including sentinel narrative reviews on the care of combat veterans and on veteran suicide.
She has developed teaching curricula and lectures aimed at educating health trainees about the specific health concerns of veterans (including depression, PTSD, mild TBI/concussion, substance use disorders, and general care of veterans).
Publications
Featured Publications
Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Farmer M, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgun K. Racial and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in a National Sample of Veterans. 2022, a3695-a3695. DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2022.205.1_meetingabstracts.a3695.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers
Ruiz F, Burgo-Black L, Hunt SC, Miller M, Spelman JF. A Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers. Public Health Reports 2022, 138: 223-231. PMID: 35403486, PMCID: PMC10031829, DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085240.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care institutionsUS populationVeterans Affairs Healthcare SystemVeteran suicideCare institutionsGeneral US populationUnique health concernsHealth care providersPublic health approachBroader public health approachPrompt interventionRisk factorsRates of suicideCare providersGeneral populationRecognition of riskFemale veteransNarrative reviewHealth approachAdult suicideHealth concernVA systemHealth careHealthcare systemVeteransAddressing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within a Large Healthcare System: a Population Health Model
Spelman JF, Kravetz JD, Bastian L, Ruser C. Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within a Large Healthcare System: a Population Health Model. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2022, 37: 954-957. PMID: 35025069, PMCID: PMC8757394, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07353-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPopulation health approachLarge healthcare systemQuality improvement projectVaccine acceptanceHealth approachVeterans Health Administration systemCOVID-19 vaccine acceptanceEHR-based toolsMedical home teamsPrimary care providersPrimary care sitesHealthcare systemRate of vaccinationRegion 6 monthsSignificant public health threatHealth Administration systemPopulation health modelPublic health threatVaccine uptakeVaccination ratesCare sitesVaccine hesitancyCare providersEducation sessionsProgram EvaluationWeA Facility-Wide Plan to Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care and General Mental Health Settings.
Spelman JF, Edens EL, Maya S, Moore BA, Boggs A, MacLean RR, Ackland P, Becker WC, Lynch D, Garcia-Vassallo M, Burgo AL, Rosen MI, Gordon AJ. A Facility-Wide Plan to Increase Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care and General Mental Health Settings. Federal Practitioner 2021, 38: 460-464. PMID: 34733066, PMCID: PMC8560103, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0186.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVeterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare SystemOpioid use disorderMOUD accessPrimary careTarget clinicsUse disordersGeneral mental health clinicsKey interventionsMental health clinicsMental health settingsGeneral mental health settingsHealth care practitionersQuality improvement effortsElectronic health recordsEligible patientsMOUD receiptPrescriber characteristicsBuprenorphine prescribersOpioid epidemicHealth clinicsMOUDCare practitionersHealth settingsNational VAElectronic consultationA Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19
Spelman JF, Brienza R, Walsh RF, Drost P, Schwartz AR, Kravetz JD, Pitkin P, Ruser C. A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2020, 35: 3073-3076. PMID: 32705471, PMCID: PMC7377306, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06041-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrgent care clinicVirtual careVA Connecticut Health Care SystemCare clinicsPerson visitsValuable health care resourcesPrimary care responseStandardized note templatesFuture pandemic responsesVirtual care modelsHealth care resourcesCOVID-19 pandemicHealth care deliveryHealth care systemVideo visitsTelephone encountersCare modelCare responseCare resourcesPatient exposureCare deliveryNote templateVirtual visitsMedical staffCare system
2024
Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening via Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Veterans Affairs Health System.
Xu J, Kravetz J, Spelman J, Roy K, Lilly V, Cosentino D, Ruser C. Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening via Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing in a Veterans Affairs Health System. Federal Practitioner 2024, 41: s39-s42. PMID: 39411394, PMCID: PMC11473113, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0496.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchColorectal cancer screening ratesFecal immunochemical test kitsCancer screening ratesVeterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare SystemFecal immunochemical testScreening ratesImmunochemical testPopulation-based colorectal cancer screening programImprove colorectal cancer screening ratesUS Multi-Society Task ForceFecal immunochemical test programsColorectal cancer screening programImprove colorectal cancer screeningMailed fecal immunochemical testMulti-Society Task ForceColorectal cancer screeningVeterans Affairs Health SystemCancer screening programCancer screeningHealth systemPatient visitsScreening programHealthcare systemTeam-basedTest utilization
2023
Increasing buprenorphine access for patients with chronic pain: a quality improvement initiative
Wesolowicz D, Spelman J, Edmond S, Schwartz A, Kravetz J, Edens E, Becker W. Increasing buprenorphine access for patients with chronic pain: a quality improvement initiative. Pain Medicine 2023, 25: 226-230. PMID: 37847654, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuality improvement initiativesSpecialty pain clinicPrimary care providersPrimary careChronic painPain clinicCare providersImprovement initiativesVeterans Health Administration healthcare systemFull agonist opioidsPrimary care clinicsNumber of patientsEligible patientsBuprenorphine prescribingCare clinicsPain careProvider comfortStandard operating proceduresBuprenorphine accessBuprenorphinePainPrescribingPatientsEducational sessionsClinicRacial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Farmer M, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgün K. Racial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates. AJPM Focus 2023, 2: 100094. PMID: 37362395, PMCID: PMC10038675, DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRace/ethnicity groupsFirst vaccinationFirst COVID-19 vaccinationVeterans AffairsWhite veteransCharlson Comorbidity IndexRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care visitsEthnicity groupsCOVID-19 vaccinationLarge healthcare systemEquitable vaccine distributionAsian Americans/Pacific IslandersRace/ethnicityUnvaccinated patientsComorbidity indexInfluenza vaccinationSelf-reported categoriesBlack groupCare visitsCohort studyHazard ratioPrimary outcomeWhite patientsBlack patients
2022
Sexual Health Assessment Is Vital to Whole Health Models of Care
Uzdavines A, Helmer D, Spelman J, Mattocks K, Johnson A, Chardos J, Lynch K, Kauth M. Sexual Health Assessment Is Vital to Whole Health Models of Care. JMIRx Med 2022, 3: e36266. PMID: 37725523, PMCID: PMC10414374, DOI: 10.2196/36266.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSexual health assessmentVeterans Health AdministrationWhole Health modelHealth care systemElectronic health recordsSexual healthWhole healthOverall healthCare systemHealth modelHealth assessmentSexual concernsWhole Health approachEducational interventionPrimary care clinicsHealth education interventionHealth care providersPatients' sexual orientationAbsence of diseaseRoutine careCare clinicsPreventive careCare providersCare needsClinical practice
2021
Virtual Respiratory Urgent Clinics for COVID-19 Symptoms.
Brienza RS, Spelman JF, Hager K, Ruser C. Virtual Respiratory Urgent Clinics for COVID-19 Symptoms. Federal Practitioner 2021, 38: 402-405. PMID: 34737536, PMCID: PMC8562901, DOI: 10.12788/fp.0178.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemGoals of careCOVID-19 symptomsHealth care provider evaluationsQualitative chart reviewCharacteristics of patientsUrgent care clinicPrimary care sitesSubsequent emergency departmentHealth care workersHigh occupational riskVirtual care modelsCOVID-19 testingChart reviewIsolation precautionsCare clinicsDocumentation ratesEmergency departmentRoutine counselingVirtual careRetrospective analysisUrgent clinicCare sitesCare modelCare workers
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News & Links
News
- July 24, 2024
Yale Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Promotions and Appointments (July 2024)
- April 14, 2022
Discoveries & Impact (April 2022)
- March 24, 2021
Starting a telehealth revolution
- September 17, 2020
Discoveries & Impact (September 2020)
Get In Touch
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General Internal Medicine
950 Campbell Avenue, Firm B, Primary care
West Haven, CT 06516
United States