Education week provides excuse to honor teaching
November 1, 1999 4 minutes read
Education week provides excuse to honor teaching
An opportunity that can’t be missed
Question: "How can Health Care Education Week be used to recognize and promote patient education? What have you done at your institution and what results have you seen by recognizing patient education during this week?"
Answer: No one should miss an opportunity to promote the importance of patient education, says Ceresa Ward, MS, RN, manager of health improvement services at the University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics in Columbia. That’s why several events have been created at the health care facility to commemorate Health Care Education Week, which will take place Dec. 5-11, 1999. (For more information on Health Care Education Week, see article, p. 125.)
Awards given in multiple areas
One of the most important events is the recognition for excellence in patient education provided by the distribution of awards. In 1988, when the institution had its first recognition ceremony, only nurses were recognized. Now the awards are multidisciplinary.
There also is no longer an overall winner, because it is too difficult to compare patient education efforts in diverse areas of a health care facility, such as ICU, dietary, or patient care units. Staff in each patient care area can make nominations according to a set of criteria. They also select the award winner within their own division unless they seek help from the patient and family education committee, says Ward.
The selection criteria for nominations are:
• Priority.
Nominee prioritizes patient education in care routine. He or she may be a member of the housewide patient education committee, the nursing patient education subcommittee, or a unit-based patient education committee. Nominee collaborates with interdisciplinary team.
• Teaching.
When teaching patient, family, or caregiver, the nominee uses a variety of teaching tools and approaches to meet individual learning needs. Shares information on patient education materials, teaching protocols, teaching tips, and patient teaching documentation with staff.
• Educational material identification and development.
Nominee identifies or writes new educational materials or patient teaching protocols using appropriate approval process or serves as a content expert for development or review.
• Documentation.
Documents teaching and evaluates patient/ family learning using approved documentation methods.
• Skill enhancement.
Increases knowledge base of how and what to teach by reading journals, attending conferences, or participating in special programs.
The awards show staff there is recognition for making patient education an important part of patient care, says Ward. "The awards are a form of reinforcement to the individuals who receive them and also an overall reminder to everyone that patient education is important, and we do notice whether or not it is done," she explains. The institution used to hold an awards ceremony, but only the winner’s family members showed up, so last year they presented the awards on the unit, surprising the recipient. (To learn innovative ways to use posters during Health Care Education Week, see article, p. 124.)
Opportunity for workshops
At the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, Health Care Education Week is used to make staff more aware of the importance of educating patients. This year, a workshop titled "You Want me to Teach What to Whom?" which covers the basics of adult education in a health care setting, is a featured event. It also teaches attendees how to evaluate the readability level of written materials, says Sharon Sweeting, MS, RD, CDE, coordinator of patient and family education at the health care facility.
The facility has 1,300 beds and 8,000 employees. To get the word out on the workshop, Sweeting uses the interdepartment e-mail system and usually has a large turnout. Also, rather than celebrate health care education in December, she holds events in September, when holiday parties won’t interfere with attendance.
To target employees who aren’t involved directly in patient care, Sweeting organizes a patient education health fair in the medical center’s park. About 35 agencies and departments participate in the fair, which focuses on health screenings such as high blood pressure and blood glucose.
If the screening determines that the employee is at risk for a particular disease, he or she is immediately referred to the employee health service. "We have closed the loop in terms of not just screening for screening’s sake, but to take action. If you are high-risk, you are referred to counseling," says Sweeting.
Health fair promotes patient education
A health fair aimed at the patient population has been used at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) of Milwaukee to promote the value of patient education. The health fair consists of 25 multimedia displays highlighting formal patient education programs, support groups, and other specialty resources. VAMC invites veterans to the fair via a mass mailing, explains Jill A. Gennari, patient education librarian at VAMC Milwaukee.
In addition to providing education for patients, the health fair helps staff members learn about the patient education programs and resources offered by the VAMC. The health fair also enhances VAMC’s ability to provide health education to patients.
Staff members who create the multimedia displays are asked to identify an educational goal specific to the topic of their display. A one-page form listing the stations at the health fair and a specific goal to be accomplished at each one is printed by the Patient Education Council.
In 1998, there were 17 stations. "Any staff member who participated in at least six of the 17 stations and had the instructors’ initials to verify participation was granted one hour of educational credit," says Gennari.
Celebrating Health Care Education Week helps to heighten the consciousness of patient education among employees at the health care institution, says Sweeting. It also helps staff see the unique educational programs in other departments rather than just where they work. It’s also a good marketing tool, exposing the community to the innovative educational programs available at the medical facility. (For other ideas for celebrating Health Care Education Week, see list on p. 125.)
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