For Jyoti Narang, MBA, MS, PA-C, the gap in health care was impossible to ignore.
At Bellevue Hospital in New York City, many patients, especially those who were uninsured or facing financial hardship, struggled to access ostomy bags, barriers and skin care supplies.
“It was really distressing for me as a provider or as a human, to see that they were reusing single-use items or going without proper equipment altogether,” Narang said.
The consequences were serious. Patients often rationed or reused supplies, leading to “increased rate of skin complications, infections, leakage issues and frequent visits to the emergency room and urgent care,” Narang said.
Narang, who practices in surgical oncology, worked with a team to apply for and receive the Kathy J. Pedersen Grant to Promote Equitable Care from the nccPA Health Foundation. The funding helped address a critical need for patients with ostomies: reliable access to basic supplies and education.
The project established a comprehensive ostomy support initiative within Bellevue’s Cancer Center. Narang and the team created a structured process to identify patients at risk for limited access to supplies early in their care, often around surgery or shortly after discharge. The effort brought together social workers, clinicians, surgeons, PA students, care coordinators and ostomy nurses. Patients received hands-on teaching, written instructions and ongoing support.
“This grant actually made me go ahead and speak to our senior leadership to ensure that we can advocate for a dedicated outpatient-inpatient ostomy NP,” Narang said.
The initiative also strengthened vendor partnerships and created a more sustainable system to support patients managing long-term ostomy care.
“As a PA, this project is deeply impactful because it brought in my perspective, beyond the clinical aspects of care, to fully appreciate the social determinants of health that influence our patient outcomes,” Narang said.
The grant also elevated PA-led innovation within the institution. Narang said no PA at Bellevue had previously written a grant, and the experience motivated her to pursue additional funding opportunities and mentor colleagues.
For future applicants, Narang encourages PAs and PA students to focus on the needs directly in front of them.
“When I was looking for an idea and a concept, it was right in front of me,” Narang said. “Improving the patient experience takes one step at a time.”
