Spring Break
New Health Center Web site expands outreach to patients
Liz Ruocco
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News
In an effort to improve health education and communication with patients, the Communication Department at the UConn Health Center is now offering a Health E-cademy Web site that allows their patients to watch videos taught by their employees, become acquainted with their clinical services, discover community programs, view an events calendar and much more.
The Web site features videos covering questions patients should ask during an office visit, legal and ethical issues that arise during the end of life, privacy laws and how to understand the results of diagnostic or screening tests. The videos range from 27 to 55 minutes in length.
"Those are good classes to have on the Web site because their informative and are everyday issues," said Lisa Tartaglia, a 2nd-semester journalism major.
"Originally, we had classes that were taught in live sessions but we've switched over to the Web, and it's really a pilot," said Scott Weston, an associate professor of communication medicine and health care and an instructor on the Web site. "As of now we have five classes on the website and whether we get more really depends on the feedback."
The Web site users are able to provide direct feedback, suggestions, and comments on the website. This feedback will be considered when determining whether more classes will be put on the Web site, when they will be put up, and what specific classes will be added.
"We are going to use evidence to decide how to expand the Web site, and that evidence will be the feedback we receive," Weston said. "The Web site is a stepping stone and a lot depends on how well it is received."
The Web site is designed to be hands on and interactive, and also accessible in bad weather. Feedback can be provided within a matter of seconds. The success of the live sessions meant that the instructors were traveling to many locations and this can become overwhelming to the faculty.
Everything on the Web site is centered around the patient, the main concern of the faculty.
"More and more, patients seek practical information to help them achieve better outcomes. The demand for such information continues to grow, yet people often do not know where to turn to receive information that is current and credible," said a statement on the new Web site by Cato T. Laurencin, Vice President for Health Affairs.
The Web site features videos covering questions patients should ask during an office visit, legal and ethical issues that arise during the end of life, privacy laws and how to understand the results of diagnostic or screening tests. The videos range from 27 to 55 minutes in length.
"Those are good classes to have on the Web site because their informative and are everyday issues," said Lisa Tartaglia, a 2nd-semester journalism major.
"Originally, we had classes that were taught in live sessions but we've switched over to the Web, and it's really a pilot," said Scott Weston, an associate professor of communication medicine and health care and an instructor on the Web site. "As of now we have five classes on the website and whether we get more really depends on the feedback."
The Web site users are able to provide direct feedback, suggestions, and comments on the website. This feedback will be considered when determining whether more classes will be put on the Web site, when they will be put up, and what specific classes will be added.
"We are going to use evidence to decide how to expand the Web site, and that evidence will be the feedback we receive," Weston said. "The Web site is a stepping stone and a lot depends on how well it is received."
The Web site is designed to be hands on and interactive, and also accessible in bad weather. Feedback can be provided within a matter of seconds. The success of the live sessions meant that the instructors were traveling to many locations and this can become overwhelming to the faculty.
Everything on the Web site is centered around the patient, the main concern of the faculty.
"More and more, patients seek practical information to help them achieve better outcomes. The demand for such information continues to grow, yet people often do not know where to turn to receive information that is current and credible," said a statement on the new Web site by Cato T. Laurencin, Vice President for Health Affairs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Lola
posted 2/04/09 @ 11:49 AM EST
Can you give us the address of the website? It's not in the article.
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