We are taking a different approach at DAO

Dear Reader,

At Dao, we are getting ready to start a Theme Blog Campaign for the rest of 2011!!!

May, we will focus on Diversity & Inclusion at the Workplace (These topics will be health care, social and human services workforce related).

June, we will be providing the latest on revolution of cultural and linguistic competence trends, how changes take place, and how affect the care of minority groups in America.

July, Public Health Practice, based on true community stories.

August, Cultural Broker/Cultural Health Broker (partnering with health care providers in the behavioral change/modification of resistance to treatment).

We will have special guest writers through out the year!

Soon, we will be announcing the themes for September, November, and December!

Helen Dao

The Affordable Care Act — What it Means for Those with Pre-Existing Conditions

I received an email from a colleague who did a nice job in updating us on what is taking place with the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP).

"The PCIP is administered by either your state or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides a health coverage option for children and adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia who have been locked out of the health insurance market because of a pre-existing condition. This transitional program will continue until 2014 when Americans, regardless of their health status, will have access to affordable health insurance when the nation transitions to a new marketplace.

Eligibility criteria for PCIP:

·         A U.S. citizen or residing here legally

·         Uninsured for at least the last six months

·         Have a pre-existing condition or have been denied health coverage because of a health    condition

For more information and how to apply, go to “Find Your State” at https://www.pcip.gov/ and click on your state from a map of the United States or select a state from a drop-down menu for information about how to apply. You can also call a toll-free line at: 1-866-717-5826 (TTY 1-866-561-1604). The Call Center is open from 8 AM to 11 PM Eastern Time.  A brochure is available online that can be printed and distributed: http://www.healthcare.gov/center/brochures/pcip.pdf

Thank you for your assistance in raising awareness of this very important program.

Cultural Competence: Cultural Conflicts Often Seen in Health Care

Examples of cultural conflicts often seen by health care providers and other groups, such as teachers include

• role of women in the family and the decisions they can make
• practices among cultural groups (e.g. fire cupping)

Fire cupping or simply cupping is a form of traditional medicine found in many cultures worldwide. It involves placing cups containing reduced air pressure (suction) on the skin. It is known in local languages as baguan/baguar, badkesh, banki, bahnkes, bekam, buhang, bentusa, kyukaku, gak hoi, and many other names.

History of Fire Cupping

Archaeologists have found evidence in China of cupping dating back to 1,000 B.C. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates (c. 400 B.C.) used cupping for internal disease and structural problems. This method in multiple forms spread into medicine in Asian and European civilizations.

To apply a cup, the air inside it is heated, the cup is applied to the skin forming an air-tight seal, the air inside the cup cools and contracts forming a partial vacuum, enabling the cup to suck the skin, pulling in soft tissue, and drawing blood to that area. Even in 21st Century, we do have many cultures, such as Vietnamese and Chinese using this form of traditional medicine to "cure" certain respiratory illnesses.

Check out the link to the complete explanation of this alterntive medicine practice at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_cupping

Helen Dao

Guidelines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) and its member institutions have
embraced the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism in optometric education and in the
profession.  In 2008, ASCO released the Guidleines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care stating that the guidelines had been developed in order to promote and include cultural competence as part of the teaching curricula at institutions and practices.  Because this guidelines were completed in 2008, I will suggest to read the complete pdf and see how these guidelines are applicable today.  I do have to say that medical practices or specialties are addressing very similar cultural issues, one being closing the gap of health care disparities.

Here is the Link...
ASCO Guidelines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care. Feb2009


Helen Dao

Health and Community Resources

Very often we hear that if we do not ask, we would never know.  The same applies when caring for patients.  Every city, region, and barrios have similar issues concerning linking patients not only with appropriate health care services, but also with community resources.   Health centers, practices, especially those serving patients in rural areas can implement easy steps to follow in order to provide comprehensive and continuous care.  Ask patients and families what services they need, it can be from mental health services to a ESL program.  Health and literacy are intertwined, there is a clear link to the lack of health care accessibility, knowledge and ability to promote health among individuals with low literacy level.

Many of the USA ills are directly related to illiteracy.  Just a few statistics:

• Literacy is learned. Illiteracy is passed along by parents who cannot read or write.
• One child in four grows up not knowing how to read.
• 43% of adults at Level 1 literacy skills live in poverty compared to only 4% of those at Level 5
• 3 out of 4 food stamp recipients perform in the lowest 2 literacy levels
• 90% of welfare recipients are high school dropouts
• 16 to 19 year old girls at the poverty level and below, with below average skills, are 6 times more likely to have out-of-wedlock children than their reading counterparts.
• Low literary costs $73 million per year in terms of direct health care costs. A recent study by Pfizer put the cost much higher.
  (Source: http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html)
  
  
  
  Health care providers have credibility, the community trust their decisions, care and services.  Therefore, community health centers, practices are in an amazing position to promote literacy among patients who want to improve their reading skills.  By doing this, health centers/practices can fight health care disparities.  Here is a resource that can give you more information on health and literacy resources, a model that can be applied in any health care center.  (www.nchealthliteracy.org/toolkit/tool20.pdf)
  
  
  Tell me what your experience has been and if there are any tips, ideas that you can share with others. 
  
  
  Helen Dao, MHA