Alcoholics Anonymous materials available online
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most recognizable organizations for people with alcohol dependency. The following materials are available on its Web site at www.aa.org.
•AA Fact Sheet includes the Preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous, which says the group “is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.”
•What AA Does explains that nonalcoholic guests are welcome at “open” meetings. Attendance at “closed” meetings is limited to those who are alcoholic or think they may have a drinking problem. At meetings AA members share their recovery experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem and give person-to-person services or “sponsorship” to the alcoholics coming to AA.
•What AA Does NOT Do:
1.Make medical or psychiatric diagnoses or prognoses or offer advice
2.Provide drying-out or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs, housing, jobs, money, or other welfare services
3.Accept any money for its services or contributions from outside sources.
4.Provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials, social agencies, employers, etc.
5.Engage in or support education, research, or professional treatment
•About AA, a newsletter for professionals, is available at www.aa.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=9. Alcoholics Anonymous has many AA members and service committees who are available to provide professionals with information. AA has a long history of cooperating but not affiliating with outside organizations and being available to provide meetings or information on request.
For professionals working with people who have special needs, AA material and literature are available in Braille, videos in American Sign Language, easy-to-read pamphlets, and with other considerations.
For additional information, call or write the AA General Service Office at P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, 212-870-3400.
Alzheimer's Foundation showcases jewelry line to honor caregivers
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has introduced a jewelry line that makes more than a fashion statement: it is designed to recognize the heroic act of caregiving and to raise awareness of Alzheimer disease and related dementias.
The line consists of a necklace, bracelet, and lapel pin with a sterling silver pendant modeled after AFA's logo of arms embracing a heart. The logo reflects the organization's mission of providing optimal care to individuals with dementia and their families.
The merchandise is available at www.alzfdn.org. Prices are $39.95 for the necklace; $29.95 for the bracelet, which has a leather band; and $21.95 for the lapel pin; plus shipping. Proceeds from the jewelry support AFA's programs, including grants to member organizations to enhance local services. For information, call 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.
National Institute on Aging Offers Booklets on Memory Loss and AD. The National Institute on Aging offers two free booklets designed to help people with limited literacy skills learn more about Alzheimer disease and memory loss. To order copies or for more information on these booklets, visit the ADEAR Center Web site or call 800-438-4380. Bulk orders are welcome.
AHRQ joins public education campaign on safe warfarin use
The SOS Rx coalition—a group that includes the National Consumers League, AARP, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), FDA, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and more than 80 other public- and private-sector groups—recently launched www.mybloodthinner.org as part of a new public education campaign to help the 4 million Americans taking prescription blood thinners to prevent stroke, blood clot formation, and other serious events.
To help in the effort, AHRQ developed a new booklet for patients called My Guide to Coumadin®/WarfarinTherapy. The easy-to-read text tells patients what to expect, what to watch for, and what to do while taking the blood-thinning medication.
New book promotes cultural and linguistic competence
Joint Commission Resources (JCR) has released the new book Providing Culturally and Linguistically Competent Health Care. The JCR is an affiliate of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The text provides tips and tools for implementing or improving systems and addressing challenging issues, such as providing for non-English speaking patients, identifying community members, developing and training staff to meet patients' cultural and linguistic needs, developing and implementing a business case for cultural and linguistic competence, and providing safe, quality patient care. This book includes case studies profiling domestic and international health care organizations that have effectively improved cultural and linguistic competency to meet the needs of diverse populations. It is available for $75 using order code CLC-01SJ.
To order, call JCR Customer Service toll-free at 877-223-6866, 8 am to 8 pm central time weekdays, or visit www.jcrinc.com.
Online compendium of communications tools addresses disparities in care
America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) has published a new comprehensive online compendium of tools called “Communications Resources to Close the Gap.” It is available free of charge to organizations engaged in efforts to improve care for our nation's culturally and racially diverse populations. Reducing health care disparities requires systematic change that is targeted to the needs of individuals. AHIP's multifaceted program provides technical support for health insurance plans and other health care organizations engaged in making these systematic changes.
The new publication highlights tools, Web sites, and ways to incorporate culturally and linguistically appropriate messages into everyday communications with consumers. It is written on the premise that one promising solution to reducing disparities and improving health care quality is the use of clear and proven approaches to health communications. The new publication was developed with guidance from experts within the health insurance community and authorities from the broader health care system.
Funding for this program is provided by Pfizer Inc. For details, go to www.ahip.org.
New preventive services web-based training course available
“The Medicare Preventive Services: Part 3 Expanded Benefits” Web-based training (WBT) course is now available. This WBT provides information about Medicare's coverage for the three new services added to the Medicare program in 2005: initial preventive physical exam (“Welcome to Medicare” physical exam) and diabetes and cardiovascular disease screenings. The course also includes information on diabetes self-management training; medical nutrition therapy and other diabetes supplies; colorectal, prostate, and glaucoma screenings; and bone mass measurements. This information will be helpful for health care professionals who provide these preventive services and screenings to Medicare patients.
You can access the Medicare Preventive Services Series at cms.meridianksi.com/kc/main/kc_frame.asp?kc_ident=kc0001&loc=1.
New guides help patients make better health care decisions
The National Partnership for Women & Families has developed a new booklet to help Americans become better educated health care consumers. Compare Your Health Care: Become an Informed Consumer was made possible by a grant from CIGNA. It helps patients ask questions and demand information so they can make the best possible decisions when choosing clinicians, hospitals, and nursing homes and making choices about treatment and care.
The 12-page booklet includes information on how to become an informed consumer and an informed patient and an extensive resource list (with links) to information sources on hospital, nursing home, and physician performance. It is available at www.nationalpartnership.org.
Similarly, JCR announces the release of a guide to help people find trusted sources of online health care information. Patient 101: How to Find Reliable Health Information is a resource that health care organizations can offer their patients and clients to help them research health issues and make informed decisions about their health care. The 14-page brochure includes:
•Details on sites that provide clinically proven, unbiased, and reliable health care information
•Explanations and background on each Web site
•Useful surfing strategies for finding well-researched health information
•Specific health care topics from dozens of trusted information sources
The guide is available for $60 per 100 brochures, order code: PHD-06. For more information or to order, visit www.jcrinc.com.
Kidney guide geared to black families
The Kidney Connection Guide, developed by the National Kidney Disease Education Program, helps black families discuss the connection between diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease at family reunions and other gatherings. The guide contains fact sheets about these conditions and outlines three sample approaches for sharing the information with families. Go to www.nkdep.nih.gov/familyreunion/guide.htm or call 866-4-KIDNEY to get free copies of the guide.
Academy offers free eye care
Founded in 1985, EyeCare America is a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Its mission is to reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness and severe visual impairment by raising awareness about eye disease and care, providing free eye health educational materials, and facilitating access to medical eye care.
EyeCare America offers multiple care programs for which individuals may qualify. Each caller will be automatically screened to determine the program that provides the most appropriate eye care service. Eligible seniors who have not seen an ophthalmologist in 3 or more years may be able to receive a referral for eye care at no out-of-pocket cost for up to 1 year.
Callers who have not had an eye exam in the past 12 months and are at increased risk for glaucoma may be eligible to receive a referral for a glaucoma eye exam.
Go to www.eyecareamerica.org for more information.
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