 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Blue Walcer, MPH, Patient Education Resource Center, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 30, Medical Library, Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 206-5400, blue.walcer@sfdph.org, Kavitha Krishnan, BA, University of California, San Francisco, 755 Lawton Street, San Francisco, CA 94122, and Sukari Addison, BS, Patient Education Resource Center, San Francisco General Hospital, 432 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94102.
Objectives: To implement a waiting room program in a public hospital setting that increases educational opportunities and awareness of health related topics; uses a potentially anxiety building time and redirects this time towards self-care and self-awareness; develops a practical network for patients who are medically underserved and may be socially isolated. Twenty percent of SFGH’s breast clinic patients are Latino, 21% are African American, 26% are Asian/Pacific Islander, and 31% are white. Over 90% of our breast clinic patients are low income or indigent. Thirty eight percent are uninsured, 37% receive health coverage through Medi-Cal, and 27% through Medicare. Many of our breast clinic patients have limited literacy and comprehension skills. A number of our breast clinic patients are profoundly isolated and lack the resources to access traditional sources of education and support. Methods: Surveys were conducted to assess learning needs and quality of patient experience among SFGH Breast Clinic patients. Based on assessed needs and services provided, we developed a health education program that is experiential, interactive, visual and verbal (multilingual). Programs, conducted weekly in the breast clinic waiting area, cover a wide range of topics including patient-provider communication, stress reduction, and light exercise. Results: Preliminary evaluations suggest that this program reduces anxiety and improves patient experience. Evidence further suggests that this program provides opportunities for patients to share resources and build community. This program’s strengths lie in its accessibility and immediacy. This innovative approach allows us to meet the challenges of our diverse and complex patient population.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Patient Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.