Innovation in Patient Education
After more than a year of planning, grant
writing and development, two patient education
stations are now in operation on the second and
third floor clinic waiting areas. Funded by a
grant from the National Library of Medicine, the
project is the result of initiative taken by
librarian Julie Schiavo.
She observed that last year more than 7,700
patients, including 1,271 low-income patients,
were treated at the clinics in New Orleans.
Often the patients brought family, friends, and
even their children with them. That meant a lot
of people were waiting. Ms. Schiavo saw this
time as an opportunity to help the patients.
"I believe it's important to educate our
patients so they become an active part of the
health care process," she said. There is much
work to be done because of significant public
health issues with major implication for dental
health. For example, 21.8 percent of the
population of New Orleans lives below the
poverty level. Statewide, 80 percent of children
have cavities, the most common chronic disease
of childhood in America. About one-fourth of
Louisiana adults age 65 and older have lost all
of their teeth. With ten percent of the state
population affected by diabetes, Louisiana has
the sixth highest rate among states. On a global
basis, more and more research has proven that
control of oral disease is essential to the
prevention and management of systemic conditions
such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and
|Julie Schiavo, Reference
The centerpiece of the learning stations are
dedicated computers that are easy to use and
limited to websites with high-quality patient
material. The websites include MEDLINE,
ClinicalTrials.gov, KidsHealth.org, NIH
SeniorHealth, the American Dental Association,
the American Dental Hygienist's Association, the
American Academy of Periodontology and the
American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. " All the
information is trustworthy," Ms. Schiavo said.
Printed brochures will be available soon.
Patients are reminded that the information is
not a substitute for professional advice and
that they should talk to their dentists or
physicians about the information they find.
Preliminary reports show that the patients at
LSUSD are looking for information on proper
toothbrushing technique, dry mouth, root canals,
tooth decalcification, diabetic clinical trials
in Louisiana, age-related macular degeneration,
caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease,
depression in the older adult, and even
ophthalmologists in St. Tammany Parish.
"I am thrilled with the results so far," Ms.
Schiavo said. "What I find exciting is that the
patients are using the terminals for both their
dental and medical questions. This is what I had
hoped would occur."