All home care, hospice, MLTC, FI/CDPAP and Waiver Program recipients encouraged to participate.
HCA, through the support of its Health Disparities grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, is launching a statewide health literacy initiative for patients.
The initiative will pilot test the efficacy of providing virtual health literacy education and information to home care and hospice care recipients through the Virtual Senior Center (VSC), in partnership with HCA member Selfhelp Community Services, operator of the VSC.
HCA is encouraging every certified home health agency, licensed home care services agency, hospice, managed long term care plan, PACE plan, long term home health care program, FI/CDPAP, and waiver program organization to identify recipients whom could benefit for participation in this initiative – and those should be substantial numbers from every organization.
Health literacy has been defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” (Ratzan and Parker, 2000)
Health literacy is key to positive patient experience, outcomes, effective self-care, and partnership with care professionals. It is also critical in breaking through health disparities.
With state and national policy and program prioritization on better addressing health disparities, including the state’s current work to secure a multi-billion dollar federal investment in NY to address disparities, your participation in this type of initiative will help equip you and your organization for advancement, and most importantly, will support your efforts to promote quality care and patient quality of experience, quality of life, independence and dignity.
What you need to know and do
This service will be provided without charge through Selfhelp’s VSC which HCA is able to partially support through our disparities grant.
All you need to do is identify individuals who can benefit and to assist them to enroll.
The VSC will make accessible a menu of informational and educational material to support health literacy for recipients that can be directly accessed by the individual once they are enrolled. Individuals you identify, and who wish to enroll, will just need your help to be signed into the VSC.
Once enrolled, the individual (solo or with the assistance of their caregiver or family members) can access the elements of health literacy on the VSC. There is no limit to access; recipients can sign-in according to a schedule that works best for them.
Watch this compelling example of a VSC participant:
There are no requirements other than to enroll, and to agree to provide feedback to HCA and Selfhelp as to the experience and benefit. Participating providers and organizations will be similarly asked to provide feedback and recommendations that HCA and the Mother Cabrini Foundation can use to evaluate and consider long-term support for the program.
The period of participation in the health literacy pilot will be nine months, permitting exploration and evaluation of the efficacy and experience under the program. Continuation will be open beyond that date at the preference of the recipient, provider/plan, and VSC.
Additionally, recipients (and providers and plans) are welcome to explore enrollment in VSC to access diverse classes and programs that combat social isolation and promote engagement for adults who are homebound or socially isolated. HCA is working separately to support this effort through a separate initiative with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and Selfhelp, and can separately inquire by clicking here.
At this link, you can enroll your client immediately by creating an account for them. The VSC team will keep HCA apprised (de-identified, no PHI) of the number of enrollees by organization and region.
HCA urges wide participation in this initiative! Be the first in and tell us the story of your patients’ experience! We will be sharing updates with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the Department of Health, the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, and health care partners.