Social and Health Needs

It matters where your patients live, work, and play. Good health outcomes start in the communities where your patients live. Our goal is to help you improve your patients’ health by:

C= Connecting them with community resources (like food pantries and housing help);

A= Acting for better health by teaching them about their care needs;

R= Reducing stigma by showing compassion to others and taking time to think about your actions and thoughts about yourself and others; and

E= Empowering yourself and others. Take the time to listen to your patients. Treating them with kindness and support can help them take the steps they need for better health and supporting them on their journeys to better health

 

Health Disparities Information

The National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities created a Language Access Portal (LAP). The LAP contains information, in multiple languages, for six disease areas (cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more) where major health disparities have been identified in non-English speaking populations. To learn more: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/edu-training/language-access/index.html

• Do your patients understand their treatment plans? Help with achieving that goal may be found by viewing:
  • The North Carolina Health Literacy - “Teach Back Method" at: http://nchealthliteracy.org/teachingaids.html.
  • Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion
  • The American Medical Association- "Health Literacy and Patient Safety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGtTZ_vxjyA

• Information to assist providers with communicating with Limited English Proficient (LEP) enrollees or those classified as having a low level of health care literacy is available at:
  • Interpretation and Translation Services - Assistance for enrollees with Limited English Proficiency may be obtained by contacting the Provider Services division of an enrollee's managed care organization. Also, the following link will provide I Speak Cards which can assist you with identifying an enrollees primary language - http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2010/12/14/ISpeakCards.pdf 
  • Working with Medical Interpreters - Guidelines for working with medical interpreters .
  • How to use Plain Language to communicate with your patients – Find more information at:  https://www.plainlanguage.gov/
• To learn more about providing culturally competent health care click on this link https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/

• Do you need basic information related to disparities in health care? Information may be found at:
  1. Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health at: https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/
  2. Making Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Happen at: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/admin/health-equity/clas/making-clas-happen.html
     
  3. The next revolution in health care? Empathy | Paul Rosen | TEDxWilmington at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BKN7RFhdq4