PFAC Picks: In an effort to ensure the voice of patient and family advocates are represented in our ongoing activities, this week is the fourth in an ongoing series of "PFAC Picks Friday 5” blasts chosen by the Foundation for Health Care Quality's Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).
This week’s Friday 5 focuses on effective communication between providers and patients and their families. In particular, these resources address the difficult conversations that inevitably arise in healthcare. The links below cover different situations and provide some insight in how to have these conversations.
For more information on the Foundation's PFAC or to engage with the group, please email me at kveit@qualityhealth.org.
This Week's PFAC Picks "Friday 5":
Teen Care, Elder Care & Difficult Conversations
1) End of Life Care - One of the most difficult conversations is about end of life care. The discussion is an important part of routine care, not only during palliative care. The link below contains videos with the views and experiences of providers, patients, and family members: http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/28965.asp
2) Talking with Teens - It can be difficult to talk to teenagers on any subject, but it can be especially challenging when engaging them about their health: http://www.wakehealth.edu/Health-Central/NMR/Talking-With-Teens/
3) Teens and Sexuality - When teenagers are hesitant to talk about sexuality, it is critical for providers to take the lead: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/12/30/258384201/doctors-and-teens-both-avoid-talking-about-sex-and-sexuality
4) CDC to Increase Awareness of Sepsis - Sepsis is difficult to diagnose and can happens quickly. The public is largely unaware of the infection and it can be serious, since it can occur outside the hospital setting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a public campaign to increase the awareness among the public and to encourage providers to discus the topic with their patients: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/sepsis/
5) Long Term Care - Providers can be hesitant to bring up long term care options with their elderly patients but as Dr. Michael Fleming discusses, it can be critical for them to initiate the conversation: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140201/MAGAZINE/302019979
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Addiction Treatment Series
Join us September 28th for part one of the Addiction Treatment Series: “Current Tools in Behavioral Health and Addiction Care for Rural Healthcare and Beyond.” With so much in progress in the increasingly critical topic of addiction treatment and its integration with mental/behavioral health, it can be difficult for healthcare professionals to keep up with what kind of resources are available and how to utilize them. In this kick-off to our series, Dr. Ries of the UW Medical School will familiarize you with current tools and resources available here in Washington State aimed at effectively caring for mental/behavioral health populations, addressing warning signs of addiction, employing intervention tools, and utilizing best practices for referral to treatment. These include expanded telehealth tools and the new UW PACC program, designed to expand the behavioral health and addictions care capacity of healthcare professionals especially in remote, underserved areas. The webinar will be appropriate for primary care providers, mental health or addictions providers, psychiatrists, and rural healthcare professionals. Register here.
Kelly Veit, MHA
Program Director, Washington Patient Safety Coalition
Foundation for Healthcare Quality
705 Second Ave. Ste. 410
Seattle, WA 98104
Kveit@qualityhealth.org | 206.204.7383
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