Linda Johnston Lloyd, HRSA Health Literacy Coordinator

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Health Resources and Services

Administration (HRSA) Unified Health Communications Training Course

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HRSA’s Unified Health Communications Approach

“HRSA supports and promotes a unified health communications perspective that:

• addresses cultural competency, limited English Proficiency, and health literacy in an integrated approach

• in order to develop the skills and abilities needed by HRSA-funded providers and staff to deliver the best quality health care effectively to the diverse populations they serve.”1

1 HRSA POM- 2007-01: Cultural and Linguistic Competence, page one

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Why Training?

Health care providers funded through HRSA grants need to understand how to be effective in cross-cultural and language appropriate communications, as well as general health literacy issues.– Over 65 percent of patients in HRSA-funded

programs are culturally diverse– More than 1 to 3 adults lack sufficient health

literacy to interpret an OTC drug label, know when a child should receive a vaccine, use a BMI chart

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HRSA’s Training Course Goal

To provide HRSA staff and grantees the opportunity to improve health care and health outcomes through an increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of the three main factors contributing to unified health communication:

1. Health Literacy2. Cultural Competency 3. Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to implement patient-centered communication practices that demonstrate cultural competency and appropriately address patients with limited health literacy and LEP.

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Main Screen

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Course Information: to access draft preview go to http://www.c2mm.net/hrsa/Five interactive Modules: Introduction to Health Communication Health Literacy Cultural Competency Limited English Proficiency The Capstone

Course Length: 4-5 hours with ability to start and stop during course

Knowledge Checks during modulesPre and Post Test AssessmentsCourse Completion Certificate-Continuing Education

Credits available

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Knowledge Check

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Accessing the NewTraining Course

Who: Course is designed to address the needs of the populations that HRSA serves. Course will be available online nationally and internationally to Public Health Professionals and other interested in the topic.

Cost: No charge to take the course; it is up to the accrediting body as to any charge for CMEs, CEUs and CHES Credits available

Where/How: Access course on the HRSA Internet which will link to TRAIN– the premier learning resource for professionals who protect the

public's health. – a free service of the Public Health Foundation, is part of the newly

expanded TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN).

When: Proposed Launch Date is October 2007

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HRSA Health Literacy Workgroup* Indicates Training Course Planning Team

CQ*Linda Johnston Lloyd, Chair*Linda Kwon OEOCR*Maria White, Co-ChairOMHHDTanya Pagan Raggio Ashley*Len Epstein OC*Beverly Boyce*Kim DickersonMelanie BujandaOPRGwen ClarkLauren Spears,DGMMalena CrawfordMichelle Smith,OPE*Samara LorenzAlex Ross, HSFG

BHPr

Daniel Mareck

BPHC

*Richard Jackson

Marion Primas

Pocahantas Wilkinson

MCHB

Christina Turgel

HAB

Sonya Hunt Gray

Stephanie Yun

HSB/OPA

Ann Ferrero

HSB/DOT

Richard Laeng

OHRP

Lily Smetana*Special thanks to OIT colleagues Lynn Dennie, Joni Johns and

staff

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Stakeholders: HRSA Training Course• National Library of Medicine, Department of Health and Human Services Health

Literacy Coordinators• Public Health Foundation • Pilot Study Participants such as:

– Dr. Kyu Rhee, Director, Baltimore Medical System, – Amy Feinberg, American Association for Health Education, – Donna Poole, FOH Unit Coordinator, – Kirsten Thomas, Physician Assistant Program Coordinator, George Washington

University– Stephanie Yun, HRSA Staff & CHES certified

• Reviewers of the Beta Version such as: – Dr Ruth Parker, Professor, Emory University School of Medicine and Grady

Hospital,– Dr. Yolanda Partida, Director Hablamos Juntos, UCSF Fresno Center for Medical

Education and Research, – Dr. Robert Like, Professor, University of New Jersey School of Medicine and

Dentistry, – William Ray Bullman, Executive Director, National Council for Patient Information &

Education

Notes: Pilot Study-10 participants took the online course August 22/23 in HRSA Computer Lab.

Simultaneously approximately 25 volunteers will review the Beta version online and provide feedback to HRSA training team.

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Questions for Discussion & Action

• What are your insights and reactions to HRSA’s new Unified Health Communications Training Course?

• What can you and your organization do to maximize the impact of this course?

For More Information Contact:

Ljohnston-lloyd@hrsa.gov or 301-443-0831