Submitted by Chris Childs
Hardin Library, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Patient safety is a serious issue in the medical profession. Though most of the responsibility for it falls on providers, patients can help ensure safe care. This is where the Partnering for Patient Empowerment through Community Awareness (PPECA) project comes in. Whether it is asking the physician questions during examination, looking up health information online at home or the local public library, or just knowing you may bring someone to support you during doctor visits, it is important that everyone is proactive about their own health care.
The idea behind PPECA is that through patient empowerment, the patient will feel more comfortable asking their physician questions and doing research on their own and will better understand their diagnosis. They'll also be more inclined to follow the regimen prescribed to them.
Hardin Library for the Health Sciences has collaborated with the University of Iowa College of Public Health Institute for Quality Healthcare, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS) and Zipperer Project Management to create a three-hour train-the-trainer presentation. It includes three modules, a facilitator's guide and patient safety handouts. The goal is to help others start their own PPECA program.
The first module is a video of a woman telling how she lost her brother to medical error. The second module is given by a representative of UIHC, who discusses how medical errors occur. They mention how active patient participation can help reduce medical errors and make the system operate more smoothly. I present module three and discuss how information can empower patients to be safer and more aware and encourage them to work with their local librarian to find information. I also give a brief demonstration of MedlinePlus and Iowa Go Local and mention that public libraries provide computer access for those who don't have it at home.
To help ensure that the audience is made aware of resources in the immediate area, we have a public librarian join us and introduce themselves at the beginning of each presentation. The librarian creates a list of resources on patient safety (print and electronic) that are available to them at the library.
In 2008, my colleagues and I went to five hospitals and spoke to audiences ranging from hospital staff to community leaders. Over several months, we spoke to 68 people. While most of the audiences were local, there was a group of nurses from Minnesota who drove down to listen to our presentation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The response has been very positive, and we are hoping to continue giving these presentations this year.