ACU is a nonprofit, transdisciplinary organization of clinicians, students, advocates and health care organizations united in a common mission:

Transcription

1 Association of Clinicians for the Underserved Craig A. Kennedy Executive Director Presentation to Iowa Primary Care Association Annual Meeting West Des Moines, Iowa October 25, 2013 ACU Mission ACU is a nonprofit, transdisciplinary organization of clinicians, students, advocates and health care organizations united in a common mission: To improve the health of America s underserved populations and to enhance the development and support of the health care clinicians serving these populations. History of ACU Founded in 1996 by alumni of the National Health Service Corps, with initial support provided by HRSA. Constituency of more than 8,000 clinicians. 18 Professional Disciplines included in membership. 900 Organizations-including community health centers, health care organizations, and professional societies. Active Community Health Fellowship program with Georgetown University Medical Center. 1

2 Products and Services Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved Clinical Tools on website Language, Culture & Literacy Asthma CDS Tool Education & Training Health IT Strength for Serving Career Center Grant Station Policy Campaign to Save the National Health Service Corps Policy Agenda Campaign to Save the NHSC Organizing Who cares about the NHSC? Educating Why should everyone care? Advocating How can you help? 2

3 Campaign to Save the NHSC Who 9,000 clinicians serving today Nearly 10 million patients served Physicians, PAs, NP, CMW, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Mental Health providers Loan Repayment Program Scholarship program Students to Service program Campaign to Save the NHSC Why Current NHSC Funding Situation Elimination of All Funding in FY ACA Trust Fund ARRA Funding Base Appropriations 0 Appropriations Eliminated All Funding Eliminated Campaign to Save the NHSC How to Help Today Find out the program s impact in your community Tell your story Sign up for our newsletter Sign our petition (still to come.) Contact your Member of Congress Join ACU 3

4 Campaign to Save the NHSC Health Center program policy issues Similar funding cliff Budget Caps ACA Implementation insurance expansion State-specific issues Medicaid expansion Marketplace governance Trust Fund established at the same time as NHSC Trust Fund Clinical Agenda Communication: Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency in the Clinical Setting 4

5 FAMILY BELIEFS AND HISTORY Clients Bring INSURANCE STATUS COMMUNITY VALUES RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY POLITICAL SITUATION LANGUAGE AND LITERACY ECONOMIC SITUATION HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 13 Objectives Explain how low health literacy and limited English proficiency affect health outcomes Describe the relationship between low health literacy and medication adherence Identify tools and strategies to improve patient centered communication Discuss effective methods of medication counseling Discuss effective techniques for using interpreter services Evaluate health education materials as they relate to health literacy Demonstrate how to make institutional changes to improve patient-provider communication Health Literacy 5

6 Health Literacy 12% 14% 22% Below Basic Basic Intermediate Proficient 53% National Center for Education Statistics, 2006 Low Health Literacy: Scope of the Problem Indicators of Low Health Literacy 6

7 Limited English Proficiency 55 million people speak a language other than English at home (1 out of 5) Asthma & LEP LEP patients had worse asthma control Increase resource utilization Lower quality of life Concerns about S/E of steroids Lower adherence rates Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards Directed at Health Care organizations Guidelines Culturally Competent Care Language Access Organizational Supports 7

8 Labeling and Information Problems 8

9 Written Materials The number of puffs contained in your metered dose inhaler is printed on the side of the canister. After you have used that number of puffs, you must throw away your MDI even if it continues to spray. Keep track of how many puffs you have used. If you use an MDI every day to control your asthma symptoms, you can determine how long it will last by dividing the total number of puffs in the MDI by the total puffs you use every day. For example, if your MDI has 200 puffs and you use a total of 4 puffs per day, divide 200 by 4. In this case, your MDI will last 50 days. Then, using a calendar, count forward that many days to determine when to throw away your MDI and begin using a new one. Not very user friendly! Patient Friendly Materials Simple font (12 pt) Layout Writing level Appearance Cultural context Limit message to one or two key points Supplement with visuals 9

10 Pay Attention to Signs Use of Community Workers ACA Implementation All the pieces need to fit together Literacy Culture Language Sick Health IT Meds 10

11 For More Information Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) 11