Sunday, August 24, 2008

Another Health Passport Civic Engagement Opportunity!

Trainers Needed-No Experience Needed!
Healthier Living, a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

Healthier Living a workshop given two and a half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. Participants are adults experiencing chronic health conditions such as hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and diabetes; their family members, friends and caretakers can also participate. People with different chronic health problems attend together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with a chronic diseases themselves.

The program provides information and teaches practical skills on managing chronic health problems. Subjects covered include:
1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation,
2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance,
3) appropriate use of medications,
4) communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals,
5) nutrition, and,
6) how to evaluate new treatments.

Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions, 3rd Edition, and an audio relaxation tape, Time for Healing.*

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants' confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Expectations of program completion: increases in healthy behaviors, positive changes in health status, increased self-efficacy, better communications with health providers, fewer visits to physicians and emergency rooms.

Train the Trainer - Thursday, Friday, September 18 &19
Thursday, Friday, September 25 & 26
8:30AM - 5:00PM
Health Passport Office, Raleigh Medical Building4200 W Conejos, Suite 200, Denver 80204
Interested in becoming a Trainer?Contact Jane Barnes,303.629.4926 janebarnes@centura.org

Health Passport's ReConnect Leadership Project

Innovative, high-quality civic service opportunities in the healthcare setting

Connectors are passionate well-trained unpaid civic leaders. They come from many professional walks of life-education, ministry, law, nursing, counseling, marketing, and business. Some have school-aged children, others are grandparents, and others have no children. All, however, share a passion for learning and for applying their knowledge and experience to advocating for patients and families.

What do Connectors do?
Connectors provide a pathway to contribute to gaps in the health care system and for these volunteers to attain a high level of meaningful contribution to their community. This group of Connectors will provide the “next level of care” so important to patients and their families in the following areas:
· Patient advocacy while in hospital including discharge communication and consistency of information for patient
· Transition coach – transitioning to home
· Family, patient, physician communication
· Chronic disease management education

What do Connectors learn in their training?
· Communication and Interpersonal Skills
· Diversity Training
· End of Life Issues
· Family Dynamics
· Leadership Development
· Patient Care Models

· Medical/ Pharmaceutical /Healthcare Terminology
· Patient Family Resources
· Spirituality
· Taking Care of Yourself
· The Aging Process
· The Healthcare System

What is the time commitment?
Advocacy and continuing training require between eight and fifteen hours a month, after completion of the initial 50-60 hours of training. The program also offers the opportunity to become part of an innovative patient care model at the national forefront of the patient advocacy movement.

Training for our pilot class of Connecters begins this fall!
Fridays, 1:00-8:00pm, and Saturdays, 9:00am – 4:00pm
September 26 & 27, October 10 & 11, November 7 & 8
Plan to attend all six session. All materials provided.
Connectors are expected to offer 12 – 20 hours per month after initial training.

Interested in becoming a Connector?
Contact Jane Barnes,
303.629.4926 janebarnes@centura.org