May 2022 Release Notes
We were busy again last month both on the video front and with respect to our technology platform. We always welcome your feedback on how we can better meet your needs and the needs of the patients and families that you serve.
Here's more information on what we've been up to:
- Catching Up on Our Most Recent Blog Posts
- What's New in the ACP Decisions Content Library
- The Latest Technology Platform Fixes & Enhancements
Catching Up On Our Most Recent Blog Posts
How to Promote Health Equity with Patient Decision Aids
(3 minute read)
Patients should never feel they have received suboptimal care or were treated differently because of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. However, healthcare disparities are an ongoing reality for minority and underserved communities throughout the United States.
While there is no single measure that will eliminate health disparities, the use of patient decision aids as part of the shared decision making-process can help diminish health inequalities in meaningful ways.
Research shows that patients with limited English proficiency are at risk for suboptimal care and rehospitalizations. People from different cultural and religious backgrounds may have different values, beliefs about health and illness, and approaches to communication and decision making. It is crucial to recognize the cultural factors that may influence medical decision making. By utilizing patient decision aids that address cultural and linguistic diversity, providers can engage in shared decision making and promote health equity.
Health Equity: What it Means & Why it Matters
(4 minute read)
With more discussion than ever around healthcare’s role in achieving health equity, it’s important for healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations, and communities to have a shared understanding of the key concepts and why achieving health equity matters.
While the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on health disparities stemming from broader inequities, the issue has existed for decades. Research has shown that people of color and lower income individuals are at increased risk of being uninsured, having a shorter life expectancy, experiencing worse health status, receiving poor quality of care, and generally faring worse across a range of health measures.
Given the broad implications of health inequity, reducing health disparities is a major focus for public health and government initiatives. With a concerted and united effort, hopefully strides can be made in eliminating health disparities and promoting health equity.
What's New in the my ACP Decisions Content Library
Last month we released seven new videos in Spanish and one new video in English:
Caregiver Academy
- Managing Financed for People with Dementia (Video) 🇪🇸
- Depression in Older Adults 🇪🇸
- Giving Comfort to a Loved One During the Last Stage of Illness 🇪🇸
Advanced Renal Disease
- Making a Choice to Stop Dialysis (Video) 🇪🇸
Cancer Screenings
- Breast Cancer Screening (Video) 🇪🇸
COVID-19
- COVID-19: Booster (Video) 🇪🇸
- COVID-19: Booster (Video) 🇺🇸
ICU
- Time Limited (Video) 🇪🇸
We have several videos in Korean, Italian, Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese coming down the pike. We are also polishing up new content for the LGBTQIA+ community about advance care planning. Stay tuned!
The Latest Technology Platform Fixes & Enhancement
👷🏼🔨Ongoing Infrastructure Update🔨👷🏼
ACP Decisions continues to work on updating and upgrading our technology infrastructure to meet growing needs and security posteriority. This multi-part initiative entails a few critical cutover events this Summer. Our first was one completed and passed on May 28th, 2022. In June we expect to conduct database maintenance over a weekend window.
ACP Decisions' iOS and Android apps are undergoing updates with a scheduled app store release in late June.
If you experience any issues or need a refresher on how to use our system, please do not hesitate to reach us at support@acpdecisions.org