Frequently Asked Questions
Why PPECA II?
Where is their more information on the PPECA I program?
Why develop a Train-the-Trainer series?
Why multidisciplinary speaker team?
Why interdisciplinary sessions?
Why educate at the community level?
Why involve librarians as patient safety information partners?
Who can I contact for more information on the PPECA-II program?
Why PPECA II?
PPECA II aims to:
1) Empower healthcare educators to partner at a community level to improve communication among key players regarding patient safety awareness and healthcare information—the consumer, the healthcare professional, and librarians so that high quality and safe care is provided to patients.
2) Introduce and increase educator and advocate familiarity with an existing consumer awareness program on patient safety and healthcare resources.
3) Encourage consumers to participate in the education, decision making, planning, implementation, and evaluation process to improve patient safety. Through PPECA II, individuals will be empowered to implement similar programs to create awareness in patients and their families of the importance of information and partnership to accept an active role in their health care. The goals of PPECA II were designed to build on the success of the PPECA I project.
Where is their more information on the PPECA I program?
The PPECA I materials are available via this site. Program development materials, handouts, slides and webcasts from the 2005 series of programs are available there for program planners to amend and update for their particular session. For an overview of previous PPECA activities, see Zipperer L., Berendsen M., Walton, L. "Consumers as Partners: Empowering Patients at the Public Library." Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, March/April 2006.
Why develop a Train-the-Trainer series?
Train-the-trainer programs have been embraced as an effective strategy to disseminate the innovation represented by PPECA I. A train-the-trainer event will provide both a continuing education and empowerment opportunity for interested parties at the community level. They build a set of skills that can be drawn from by individuals and locales who plan to implement a long-term consumer health educational strategy for their communities.
Why multidisciplinary speaker team?
A speaker team representing several areas of expertise -- including that of a patient -- makes for a more representative educational experience for train-the-trainer participants. A key element of safety improvement is to have a variety of individuals participate in the process of identifying and building solutions for improvement. A multidisciplinary speaker team echoes that strategy. It also facilitates peer-to-peer learning opportunities for session attendees given the range of participants both at the train-the-trainer event and the consumer PPECA programs the session is designed to implement.
Why interdisciplinary sessions?
Akin to the multidisciplinary nature of the speaker team, the variety of disciplines represented in the attendees will help to create opportunities for partnership and collaboration outside of the normal work groups that individuals may already have established in their community. This mix of participants will also facilitate a richer dialogue during the small group exercises and help with broader dissemination of the program concept after the training sessions are over.
Why educate at the community level?
Iowa providers have indicated that they see consumer education as an important strategy for improving patient safety. Hosting a train-the-trainer session at the community level facilitates opportunities for partnership that may have long term consequences. In addition, it is hoped that by positioning the program to be presented at the local level, that ambulatory practitioners (i.e. community pharmacist and private practice staff) will be provided with an opportunity to participate in patient safety education by partnering with their hospital-based colleagues.
Why involve librarians as patient safety information partners?
Expert librarians from either the hospital, public, or academic domains can help health professionals, community health program developers and consumers find the health information they need. Librarians are experienced in finding information. They can effectively direct individuals to information resources they may not be familiar with and teach them how to use these tools. They are strong advocates and partners in health literacy work. In addition, librarians are also able to tap into their national and local networks to gain access to materials that may not be easily accessible locally. It is their role as advocates and strategists for successful information access that position them to provide a unique contribution to patient safety and support patient-centered care and effective consumer health education programming.
Who can I contact for more information on the PPECA-II program?
Lorri Zipperer, Cybrarian
Zipperer Project Management
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services,
under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3503 with the University of Illinois at Chicago.
© 2007-2008 PPECA II . All rights reserved.