Return-Path: <root> Received: (from root@localhost) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) id f7VBuf311265 for health-archive@nifl.gov; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:56:41 -0400 (EDT) Resent-Message-Id: <200108311156.f7VBuf311265@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from web5305.mail.yahoo.com (web5305.mail.yahoo.com [216.115.106.114]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f7I0CLf13855 for <nifl-health@nifl.gov>; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 20:12:21 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010818001220.25171.qmail@web5305.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [207.172.11.232] by web5305.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 17:12:20 PDT Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 17:12:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Kantz Beth <mekantz@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [NIFL-HEALTH:3286] Ideas for a Health Information Center To: nifl-health@nifl.gov In-Reply-To: <27.1a0ce58d.28aea676@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Resent-From: root@literacy.nifl.gov Resent-Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:56:41 -0400 Resent-To: health-archive@nifl.gov Status: O Content-Length: 4639 Lines: 126 Deborah - I am a relatively new member of the list and first want to let you know how much I benefit from the insights shared by list members. Until last year I was director of a hospital-based health education center that encompassed one-on-one and group teaching, a consumer health library, and an extensive materials development program. Our staff included nurses, a librarian, and admin staff. I think the idea of including a literacy practitioner on staff is intriguing and would be of great benefit. A few thoughts based on our experience that might be helpful -- * We found it very helpful to include both RNs and non-RNs on staff. The RNs bring invaluable knowledge and skill to what is in many respects a patient care area, the non-clinicians bring a perspective and expertise from which the RNs (and the center's users) benefit. * You may want to re-consider whether you need both staff full-time. Professionals can accomplish a great deal part-time. Also, by hiring either the nurse or literacy practitioner part-time your dollars will be stretched and you may be able to include other staff as well. (That said, you do need to have one person who is consistently present and responsible for the day-to-day flow and operations.) * We utilized volunteers for some of our reception and library functions. Although the volunteers needed close supervision and a fair bit of training at the start, they were a loyal group and a number of them became quite skilled. They, too, are another way to stretch tight dollars. * Because you'll have few employees in the center, it is important that they be creative, flexible, and open to taking on multiple roles! One of the more challenging roles is as marketer/promoter...once the center opens, staff in the hospital and patients themselves need to be constantly informed/reminded of the center's services -- this takes creativity and persistence. * Salaries for nurses vary widely by geographic location. Boston rates are probably higher than what you'll find in your area. Your HR dept can be a big help in anticipating salary requirements. Hope this helps. If you're interested in more details, colleagues and I published an article in 1998 in the Journal of Nursing Administration (JONA, vol 28, no. 2) about our start-up experience that might be helpful. Good luck -- I hope it is approved and funded -- starting it will be great fun! Beth Kantz Corrigan/Kantz Consulting bkantz@corrigankantz.com --- Dwyoho@aol.com wrote: > Dear Friends, I'm engaged in a process that may be > of interest to the > discussion group and would greatly appreciate any > and all input. > > For several months, I have been working with the > community outreach > department of our county hospital to find money to > establish a health > information/education program staffed by a clinician > AND a literacy > practitioner, both full-time, and located in a > primary care facility. I have > just been invited to submit a one-page vision > statement and a tentative > budget, with the encouragement that the project may > be written into the > hospital budget, FY 2001-2002. I want to keep the > first year's cost at under > $100,000, including the two full-time salaries. The > objective is direct > service, i.e. classes and one-on-one instruction of > patients. In addition, > the program would deliver technical assistance to > literacy and health > specialists in the area of plain language and > communications with low > literacy populations. I need to know specifically > what would be the general > salary range for a nurse practitioner and/or > physician's assistant in your > area? I would also appreciate any sharing of > things that come to mind as you think about the > challenges and opportunities > that such a project might present. Some of you are > already operating > programs along this line. As you share from your > experience, the rest of us > can learn. Others may be curious and have > questions. Please post them. > > I know this request is general, but we are wide-open > here, and I hope your > comments may spark some dreaming and scheming that > could well be translated, > and soon, into direct help for people in need. > > Thanks, everyone. > > Deborah W. Yoho > Co-moderator, NIFL Health Literacy Discussion Group > Chief Executive Officer > Greater Columbia Literacy Council > 921 Woodrow Street > Columbia, SC 29205 > 803/765-2555 dwyoho@aol.com > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
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