Apr

Public Health Engagement Specialist Attends Power of Rural Health Care Conference

Posted in: #CC/Academic List, #Health Interest List, #Health Sciences List, #Public/K-12 List, All Members

The Public Health Engagement Specialist (David Brown) attended the Power of Rural Health Care Conference in Laramie, Wyoming. The conference was sponsored by the Equality State Research Network, Wyoming Office of Rural Health and the Wyoming Primary Care Association. The conference was attended by over 115 individuals concerned with the health and wellness of rural communities in the mountain west (primarily Wyoming).

While at the conference, the engagement specialist was introduced to several models and practices of performance improvement and research approaches. Some of the models included The Bridges to Health and Health Care; The Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Expansion and Thank You (AIDET®) Model for Communication; and The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Model® (ECHO®).

The Bridges to Health and Health Care is based on a book to help people understand the differences of health and health seeking behavior among demographic groups. By understanding these differences, more culturally and innovative public health programing can be offered.

The AIDET® Model provides a model of service delivery to enhance the experience of individuals seeking any services. The model has been shown to enhance customer/patron/patient satisfaction in a number of different settings.

The 4 steps of the ECHO® Model are being considered for future programs and directions in the NNLM Region 4. The 4 steps include: Amplification of information using technology; Utilization of best practices to enhance the experiences and reduce the disparities of providers and receivers of services; Having providers and receivers of services use case-based learning to enhance the overall experience; and Monitoring outcomes using database technology to ensure all data is captured.

Each of these models/approaches helps staff, organizations and individuals receiving services garner a better experience. These models can be applied in health care organizations, libraries and community-based organizations. There are photos and infographics bellow that can be applied to specific populations and organizations.

The NNLM Region 4 will be exploring how to utilize some of these models and approaches to enhance its service delivery to its members.