Archives

Connecting Patients to Community Resources 

This episode provides physicians with an overview of the various resources community resource available for patients to utilize to improve their health behaviors. Resources for smoking cessation, reducing risky drinking, eating healthier, and increasing physical activity are provided. At the end of this program, the viewer should be able to:

• Identify the recommended guidelines for the four key health behaviors (tobacco use, alcohol consumption, healthy eating, and physical activity).
• Refer patients to appropriate community resources to improve these health-related behaviors.

References and links (PDF, 44KB)

Preparing your Practice to Address Family Violence

This episode explores patient exposure to family violence including child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. In order for the physician to best intervene, certain steps should be taken in preparation. At the end of this program, the viewer should be able to

• Recognize the impact of violence and abuse on the health and well-being of patients.
• Apply strategies to prepare your practice to attend to patients exposed to past or current family violence.

  References and links (PDF, 39KB)

Use of Complementary and Alternative Treatment by Patients

This episode discusses the use of unconventional therapy by patients. While many patients use complementary and alternative therapy to treat medical conditions or enhance health, many do not disclose their use to their physicians. At the end of this program, the viewer should be able to:

• Define the different types of unconventional remedies and the reasons why patients may choose to use complementary or alternative therapy.
• Integrate strategies into practice to better manage patients who use unconventional treatments.
  
  References and links (PDF, 39KB)

Self Management Strategies for Vulnerable Populations

This program focuses on strategies for physicians to assist their patients in managing their chronic conditions. Self management is one strategy to enhance the health for vulnerable populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities and the elderly.  At the end of the segment, the viewer should be able to:

• Recognize the value of self management to manage chronic conditions.
• Apply self-management support strategies to improve the care of patients with chronic conditions.

References and links (PDF, 36KB)

Universal HIV Screening and Reducing HIV Disparities

This episode discusses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised guidelines for all adults, adolescents, and pregnant women to receive HIV screening as part of routine medical care. Universal HIV screening is one strategy to reduce the transmission of HIV, which disproportionately effects racial and ethnic minorities. At the end of this program, the viewer should be able to:

• Interpret the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidelines for universal HIV screening.
• Apply these guidelines in medical practice to offer routine HIV screening as a prevention strategy.

References and links (PDF, 36KB)

Too Few Racial and Ethnic Minority Physicians in the Workforce: Why Should We Care and What Can We do About It?

This program addresses the lack of diversity in the medicine, in particular underrepresented minority physicians. In addition, this episode identifies the barriers many minority students face when considering a career in medicine and how these barriers can best be overcome. At the end of this segment, the viewer should be able to:

• Recognize the importance of greater diversity in the workforce, particularly underrepresented racial and minority physicians.
• Describe the role of physicians in inspiring minority students to choose a career in medicine through role modeling and involvement in other programs.

References and links (PDF, 29KB)

Paying Attention to Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities

This episode addresses the health disparity of cardiovascular disease, particularly among African-American patients. Strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease among racial and ethnic minority patients is also discussed. At the end of this program, the viewer should be able to:

• Identify why African-Americans are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Intervene on behalf of racial and ethnic minority patients in the clinic and community setting to reduce this risk.

References and links (PDF, 33KB)

Binge Drinking

This program discusses the public health problem of binge drinking and the role of the medical community. In addition, strategies to reduce a patient’s binge drinking are discussed, including screening with brief intervention. At the end of the segment, the viewer should be able to:

• Provide an overview of the prevalence and consequences of binge drinking.
• Identify strategies to address binge drinking in a clinical setting. 

References and links (PDF, 35KB)

Reducing Excessive Alcohol Use: Engaging Community Action

This program describes the role of physicians in reducing high-risk alcohol consumption in the community through environmental and early intervention strategies. Community factors that influence excessive alcohol consumption are also identified. At the end of the program, the viewer should be able to:

• Understand the community role in preventing alcohol problems.
• Identify the steps that effectively address these problems.
• Identify what physicians can do to reduce alcohol problems.

References and links (PDF, 36KB)         

Role of Trust in Physician Interactions with Minority Patients

This program identifies the importance of trust in patient-physician communication and how mistrust can contribute to an even wider gap in health disparities. At the end of the program, the viewer should be able to:

• Identify why minority patients sometimes do not trust the medical system and how this mistrust could affect the quality of care a patient receives.
• Discover how to help instill or regain trust among your minority patients.

References and links (PDF, 29KB)

Racial and Ethnic Data Collection: How and Why it Should be Collected in Medical Practice

This program addresses the challenges of race and ethnicity data collection for physicians in the ambulatory setting. At the end of the program, the viewer should be able to:

• Recognize benefits to physicians by providing ways to improve the quality of care for minority patients.
• Understand the framework for data collection introduced by the Health Research and Education Trust, the research affiliate of the American Hospital Association.

References and links (PDF, 33KB)

Digital Divide: What Can Physicians do to Bridge the Gap?

This episode explores and explains the impact of the problem surrounding the inability of certain groups to access health information on the Internet, as well as providing physicians with strategies for recognizing and addressing the problems with their patients.

References and links (PDF, 34KB)

Is Obesity a Disease?

This episode explores the controversy over whether obesity can and should be classified as a disease from a public health and clinical perspective. It weights the strengths of both sides of this controversy utilizing the semantic definition of obesity and offers physicians guidance on the implications for patients and the public on each side of the issue.

References and links (PDF, 30KB)

Uninformed Consent: What Can Happen When a Patient Does Not Understand the Information You Have Provided?

This program presents the controversy about whether or not a signature on a consent form accurately represents a patient’s understanding.

References and links (PDF, 30KB)

Addressing Language Barriers Between Physician and Patient: What are the Optimal Strategies?

This episode addresses strategies to overcome language barriers and enhance communication between physicians and patients who have limited English proficiency.

References and links (PDF, 30KB)

Health Care Disparities

This episode provides a broad overview of health care disparities and some strategies for physicians to reduce them within their own practices.

References and links (PDF, 29KB)