1	University of Connecticut Health Center Patient School GOAL Provide individuals with practical information to help them become better, more successful patients and patient advocates (for their children or aging parents) Lyman Maynard Stowe Library University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington CT
2	OBJECTIVES Identify rights and responsibilities as a patient or patient advocate Employ strategies to optimize doctors’ office visits and hospitalizations Find and use reliable sources of health information to increase understanding of medical conditions and treatment options.
3	CURRICULUM Five 2 hour sessions – March-April 2006 Introduction and overview of program Session 1: Answers to questions you weren't asked, but should have been Session 2a: When the patient is your parent or child: your role as the patient advocate Session 2b: When the patient is your parent or child:using decision trees to facilitate medical decision making Session 3: A roadmap to reliable health information (it’s a jungle out there!)
4	CURRICULUM Session 4a: Understanding the results of diagnostic or screening tests Session 4b: Managing stress to get the most from your healthcare Session 5: Legal and ethical issues at the end of life: the importance of advance directives Wrap-up session: evaluation & questions
5	EVALUATION OF PROGRAM Rank each session – most (1) to least valuable (7) Most valuable - Legal & ethical issues Least valuable - When patient is child or parent: using decision trees; Managing stress
6	TOPICS TO ADD FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS Alternative vs. conventional treatments More discussion about HIPAA & privacy More on comparing hospitals How to identify best professionals Information on insurance plans, Medicare
7	PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS More time for some lectures Pick up materials in advance More case studies More handouts to take home to read
8	EMPOWER AS PATIENT How much has patient school helped empower you as patient or advocate? 78.3% - Very much 8.7% - Somewhat
9	ROADMAP TO RELIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION Health Center Library Staff Evelyn Morgen, Judith Kronick, Robert Joven, Alberta Richetelle Objectives: Find accurate information about specific diseases and treatments Evaluate websites and other resources for reliability Research provider credentials and quality reporting data Provide information about Healthnet program
10	"http://library.uchc.edu/departm/hnet" http://library.uchc.edu/departm/hnet (click on “Research: tips on doing your own research”. This served as the basis for the library’s presentation”
11	EVALUATION Objectives met #1 – Accurate information about diseases Completely= 10 Mostly = 9 Met/Unmet=2 Unmet=1 #2 Evaluate websites for reliability Completely=12 Mostly = 9 Met/Unmet= 0 Unmet=1 #3 Provider credentials and quality reporting Completely=12 Mostly =8 Met/Unmet = 0 Unmet = 2
12	EVALUATION Overall evaluation Presentation Excellent = 14 Good = 6 Fair = 1 Poor = 1 Content Excellent = 15 Good = 6 Fair = 0 Poor = 1
13	MOST USEFUL Handouts Locating information about physicians Online examples
14	LEAST USEFUL Evaluating websites Info about physicians & hospitals Nothing Explanations of what can be found on different websites
15	OTHER FEEDBACK Poor room acoustics Speakers need portable microphone I need practice using computer Room too small Not enough time Excellent, informative session “Librarians are always the most helpful”
16	Follow-up Evaluation July 2006 52% response rate Used skills in last 3 months Yes=93% Which ones: Library information Health care history Advocating for others Hand washing Five wishes (advanced directives planning guide) Selecting physicians