The Palatucci Advocacy Leadership course provides tools and capabilities to improve access  to care in situations of limited resources.  This empowered a single Neurologist to decrease resource utilization, acute care appointments and improve patient quality of life.  

The Palatucci Advocacy Leadership course provided the training and resources needed to manage large cohorts of patients in a remote population.  As a single Neurologist in a deployed setting, access to specialist care can be challenging.  A framework for communication, public awareness and provider education may improve outcomes for patients with migraines. 

Data regarding medical resource utilization, work productivity and quality of life was collected on all patients with migraine or chronic migraine presenting to a single Neurologist at Naval Hospital Okinawa.  Access to care was supplemented through health fairs, radio shows, and education of primary care providers. Public speaking and media training was completed in the AAN Palatucci course. 

Communication action plans and leadership strategies allowed single physician to improve access to care in a deployed setting.  This resulted in a significant reduction of specialist referrals and acute care appointments.  Migraine patients had improved quality of life, work productivity and fewer acute-care visits, highlighting the importance and efficacy of these techniques.