Rima-

As a hospital supervisor, I would like to suggest that, before doing  
your exercise, you clear your project with hospital administration  
and/or security. Hospitals are increasingly security-conscious and  
anyone wandering about without a clear purpose is a red flag these  
days. Agreed, a "lost person" would usually be assisted to the area  
he wanted, but it would be wise to prearrange matters with the  
hospital before initiating this activity.

Laurie Anson

On Dec 14, 2006, at 5:39 PM, Rima Rudd wrote:


> Hello,

> Thank you so much for posting this article. People might want to  

> look at the Health Literacy Study Circle+ Guides on line at  

> www.ncsall.net or www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy.

>  One of them focuses on Access to Health Care and Navigation  

> Skills. We have several versions of an adult education 'field trip'  

> to a local hospital.

>

> Here is one:

> Activity: Field Trip to a Local Hospital,

> Time: 2 hours

>

> 1)	Getting to the Hospital: ~20 minutes

> Travel to the hospital together. As you approach the hospital ask  

> participants consider where and how to enter. Here are some questions:

> §	How do we know which way to go?

> §	What is helpful or confusing about available signs?

> §	How do we decide where the main entrance of the hospital is located?

>

> Once you have reached the main entrance, take a few minutes to  

> discuss students’ observations as a group. You should remain  

> outside if you can form a circle without being in the way.

>

>

> 2)	The Hospital Lobby: 30 minutes

>

> Assignment

> Enter the main entrance of the hospital. Find a reasonable meeting  

> place. You may be able to sit in the lobby.

>

> Next, give the students their first assignment and agree to meet in  

> the designated place within 15 minutes. Ask the students to walk  

> about alone to explore the lobby and  notice the many different  

> options they have for finding their way around. Encourage them to  

> return in 10 minutes to share their observations.

>

> Follow-up Discussion

> After students have had time to make these observations, bring the  

> group back together, and find a place sit down and discuss  

> students’ observations

>

> §	Is there an information or welcome desk? Are there signs or  

> symbols indicating that it is the information desk? 	Is there  

> someone there to answer questions?

> §	Is there a map of the hospital?  Is it on the wall?  Are there  

> hand-held maps to take with you?  Is the map easy to read?  What  

> makes it easy or hard to read?

> §	Are there other signs in the lobby?  Are they helpful?  Do they  

> use words that are easy to understand?

> §	Does the lobby feel welcoming?  Why or why not?

> §	What do the people in the lobby look like?  Do they seem willing  

> to help?

>

> 3)	Completing A Navigation Task: 30 minutes

>

> Make a plan to meet in the coffee shop or cafeteria at a specified  

> time * leaving about ½ hour for the exercise.

> Have students form pairs. Assign each pair a destination in the  

> hospital such as: 1) medical records, 2) asthma center, 3) MRI, 4)  

> Registration, 5)Billing.  6) Pharmacy.

>

> Ask students to talk to each other about the following before they  

> walk around:

> §	How do they usually go about finding their way? Do they ask other  

> people for directions? Do they consult a map?

>

> Next, ask each pair to do the following:

> §	If you want to turn left or right, explain why. Point out any  

> tools or signs you use to make your decision.

> §	Talk about things you notice along the way.

> §	Explain how you know when you have reached your destination.

> §	Point out any signs or people who let you know.

>

> Finally, ask the pairs to talk about their feelings as they walk  

> back to the meeting place.

>

> 4)	Meeting in Cafeteria: 40 minutes

> Have everyone come together as a large group and have a discussion  

> about their experiences both finding their destination and visiting  

> the hospital overall.  The discussion might focus on the following:

> 	How do you feel?

> 	What was easy about this exercise?

> 	What was hard?

> 	What was most interesting?

> 	What should the hospital change to make things easier?

>

> 5) Possible follow up

> Ask the class to work together to write a letter to the head of the  

> hospital to describe what they did and what they learned. Include  

> any suggestions from the group. .

>

>

>

> Rima E. Rudd, ScD, MSPH

> Department of Society, Human Development & Health

> Harvard School of Public Health

> 677 Huntington Avenue

> Boston MA 02115

> Phone: 617 432 1135

> fax:     617 432 3123

> web:    www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy

> www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether

>

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