Student Researchers Present NC InCK Care Management Findings at Academic Pediatric Association Region IV Conference 2024

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

NC InCK student researchers Claire Sibold and Hartlee Lidsky showcased their research on care management at the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Region IV Conference. Their findings highlight the impact of NC InCK’s holistic and collaborative approach to care management.

Children identified for care management often experience complex medical, behavioral, and social challenges. Lidsky's work aimed to understand engagement with care management and identify important drivers of retention. This study revealed that while many caregivers were initially unfamiliar with care management, they valued the personalized support once they engaged.

Additionally, data showed that caregivers were more likely to stay engaged when communication is flexible, and care managers are compassionate and nonjudgmental. “A good care manager makes all the difference,” one caregiver noted. “I see her name and immediately feel relieved—she’s someone I can trust.”

Hartlee Lidsky presenting her findings titled, “Engaging Caregivers in Care Management: Mixed-Methods Lessons from NC InCK”
Hartlee Lidsky presenting her findings titled, “Engaging Caregivers in Care Management: Mixed-Methods Lessons from NC InCK”

Findings from Sibold’s work similarly emphasized the effectiveness of NC InCK’s care managers when working with children from the foster care system and highlighted the impact of NC InCK’s ability to bridge gaps between siloed systems.

Claire Sibold in front of her poster titled, “Evaluating North Carolina Integrated Care for Kids’ Novel Approach to Care Management for Children in Foster Care”
Claire Sibold in front of her poster titled, “Evaluating North Carolina Integrated Care for Kids’ Novel Approach to Care Management for Children in Foster Care”

A social worker interviewed for the study shared, “Care managers can sometimes get through red tape that we can't, and they have more resources to keep advocating for the child.” Another participant emphasized the value of deeper engagement, and the value of including everyone in the child’s life including teachers, coaches, even faith leaders, to support long-term growth.

NC InCK team and student researchers at the APA Region 4 Conference
NC InCK team and student researchers at the APA Region 4 Conference

With these insights, NC InCK continues to refine its approach and prove how comprehensive and collaborative care models can make a significant difference in the lives of children and families.

Biographies:

Claire Sibold is a third-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine, originally from Massachusetts. She graduated from Davidson College in 2020 with a major in Biology and minor in Health and Human Values. Claire's research focuses on care management in foster care. She is passionate about implementing comprehensive systems of support for vulnerable patient populations. At Duke, she is in the Primary Care Leadership Track and plans to pursue a career in family medicine, where she can care for patients of all ages within her community.

Hartlee Lidsky, MPH, is a medical student at the UNC School of Medicine and graduate of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. In July 2025, she will begin an Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency at the University of Michigan. She is interested in health services research and Medicaid policy as mechanisms to improve care for historically underserved populations; and plans to pursue a career focused on care for socially and medically complex hospitalized patients.