National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations

1. National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations Connecting the Desire with the Need: Culturally Competent Care Baltimore, Maryland October 21, 2010 Samia Hussein, B.S, CCSU Brenda P. DelGado, Executive Director PhD (ABD) Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

2. Agenda • Learning Objectives • Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Overview • National Statistics • Primary Care Shortages and Cultural Diversity • CT Statistics • MUA, Immigrant Populations, Linguistic Isolation, ER Visits • International Health Professional Bridge Center • Key Partners in Healthcare (Social Capital) • Goals • Vision/Mission • Survey Tool/Results • Services to be provided • Accomplishments • Benefits • Next Steps/Recap Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

3. Learning Objectives • Identify 5 Key Areas Impacting the Healthcare System • Engage Foreign Trained Health Professionals (FTHP) in the decision making process • Support Entry of FTHP into the Healthcare Workforce • Describe the Benefits to the Healthcare System Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

4. What the Heck is AHEC?(Area Health Education Center) • Federally funded 1971 by US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), CT Department of Higher Ed • 49 States have over 350 AHEC Centers and 130 program offices as lead agency., UCONN School of Medicine four regional centers • Each state requires a statewide Advisory committee • Established in 1976 as the Hartford Primary Care Consortium, (HPPC) by five neighborhood health centers to address health care needs of Hartford’s medically underserved and • AHEC became a program of HPCC in 1995 and agency took on its current name in 2000 • Our mission is “to eliminate health disparities among diverse populations of central Connecticut by providing and coordinating programs that improve the health status of all” Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

5. AHEC AROUND USA Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

6. Staff: 28 Staff: 5 Staff: 5 Staff: 5 Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

7. CENTRAL AHEC PROGRAM SERVICES Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

8. Current Realities & Needs Cited from New York Times Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

9. A health care system lacks diversity The physician diversity ratio in CT is 3.74, which means that in order to have a physician workforce that marches its population, CT would need to increase its current number of underrepresented minority physicians 3.74 times. Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

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11. Increase in Immigrants Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

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13. Health Inequities- ER Visits • In 2008: 435 per 1000 in CT vs. 404 per 1000 in USA • Between 2000-2006, preventable hospitalizations up 4%; racial/ethnic minorities contribute 100% of 4% growth • Preventable hospitalizations among whites decreased 3% over that same period • Hispanics & African Americans represented 44% & 31% respectively • Factors: No primary care physician, no insurance, language/culture (linguistic isolation), lack of resources, etc Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

14. Key Partners in the Healthcare Community Center Advisory Committee • Community Health Center Association of Connecticut • City of Hartford Department of Health & Human Services • UCONN AHEC Program Office • UCONN- School of Public Health • CCSU- Center for Public Policy & Social Research • Concerned Citizens for Humanity • Connecticut Department of Public Health Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

15. International Bridge Center Goals • Increase quality of a diverse healthcare workforce • Increase access & response of the healthcare delivery system • Increase delivery of healthcare for limited English proficiency individuals • Decrease impact of language barriers on quality of healthcare Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

16. Vision • To shape Connecticut's health care system so that underserved, culturally diverse populations will experience better health outcomes. Mission • To build a bridge between qualified, internationally trained health care professionals and linguistically and culturally competent health care services for Connecticut's diverse, underserved communities. Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

17. Survey Tool • Demographics: • Age • Country of Birth, current Status • Length in years/months of stay • Native Language • Language • Proficiency Reading, Writing, Speaking (English/Other) • Not Licensed in Connecticut • Degree/License in Native Country • Current Clinical Work using Degree/License • Already Licensed in Connecticut • Current Job? • Length of CT Licensing Process? • Cost of process? • What supports helped? • Interest to entering the Healthcare Workforce in Connecticut • Level of commitment to get licensed? • Three biggest obstacles to get licensed? • Individual and Community support for Center? • Center Name? • Contact information for database Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

18. Survey Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

19. English Language is NOT the biggest Factor!! Understanding the licensing process was the biggest factor!! Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

20. What the Bridge Center will offer: • Individualized academic counseling • Individualized career pathways, accelerated & alternative programs • Understand CT licensing process • Background checks & license verification • Potential educational resources, including workshops (Intro to US Healthcare System, TOEFL prep, etc) • Referrals to financial assistance • Mentoring by experienced health professionals • Referrals to educational institutions • Referrals to English as a Second Language programs • Study/support peer groups for exam prep Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

21. Accomplishments • Visited similar programs (WBC) • Funded Business plan • Center website (www.centralctahec.org) • Marketing brochure • Orientation Manual • Online registry • Ongoing FTHP communication & database • Mapped pathways for six healthcare professions • Identified potential resources • Type of VISA & opportunities granted • Conducted local and statewide presentations Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

22. How will Connecticut benefit? • Competent FTHP working in their trained profession • Commitment to healthcare system in CT • Collaboration between current & new providers to address shortage & lack of diversity • Continuity of underrepresented communities to experience better health outcomes & eliminate health disparities • Confront cultural/language barriers for seeking health care • Create a bridge between culturally & linguistically competent health professionals & healthcare services for diverse underserved communities • Create a strong patient-provider relationship to build patient confidence, leading to frequent medical visits Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

23. Sustainability/Next Steps • Reconvene Advisory Committee • Newsletter for FTHP (Updates) • Meet with Goodwin Community College President • Continue Grant Seeking Opportunities • Identify Fee Structure for Services • Continue Online Sign-up Registry • Plan Regional Meeting of Interested Collaborators • Meet with Connecticut Medical Society Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

24. Recap/Summary • Decrease linguistic isolation • Increase primary care providers • Increase linguistically & culturally competent health professionals • Increase workforce diversity • Increase access to care for underserved communities • Increase the patient-provider relationship • Decrease health inequities • Increase healthy outcomes/medical adherence Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

25. Connecting the Desire with the Need • Recruitment of Racial/Ethnic students    Medical School • Recruitment and Training of Medical Interpreters • Language (dialects, slang) • Culture • Time • Coordination of Telephone Translations • Lost messages • Impersonal • Time Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

26. International Health Professional Bridge Center Qualified & Experienced Foreign Trained Health Professionals BEST ALTERNATIVE Central Area Health Education Center, Inc

27. Thank You CENTRAL AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, INC. Brenda P. DelGado, Executive Director Samia Hussein, Coordinator International Health Professional Bridge Center 20-28 Sargeant Street Hartford, CT 06105 860-920-5149 www.centralctahec.org www.healthcareersinct.com info@centralctahec.org Join Us on (Central CT AHEC) Central Area Health Education Center, Inc