An innovative new program, Hora de Hablar CARDIO – Creando la Atencion Real y Dialogo Inmediato en la Oficina, launched today to encourage patients and health care professionals to actively partner to help better manage heart health through more productive conversations during medical visits. Tailored specifically for the Hispanic community, Hora de Hablar CARDIO is a culturally translated Spanish-language version of award-winning program, Time to Talk CARDIO – Creating A Real Dialogue In the Office. Hora de Hablar CARDIO and Time to Talk CARDIO are educational programs paid for by Merck and developed in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, Canyon Ranch Institute and RIASWorks. For more information, please visit www.HoradeHablarCARDIO.com.
"There is strong evidence showing that empowered patient-provider communication offers many benefits, including increased understanding and satisfaction, which may help improve patient outcomes," said Astrid T. Almodovar, M.D., M.P.A. a Time to Talk CARDIO pilot physician at Forest Hills Family Health Associates in New Jersey. "We believe Hora de Hablar CARDIO may make an important difference in how Spanish-speaking patients and their health care professionals communicate."
More than 870,000 Americans die from heart disease each year making it the number one cause of death in the country. Among Hispanic Americans, nearly one out of every three deaths annually is due to heart disease. Language and cultural barriers, combined with little or no access to preventive medicine, are some of the factors that shape Hispanic American health. The result is that Hispanic American patients are more likely to delay health care and cease treatment when symptoms subside or disappear. It is, therefore, important to optimize the limited time available during medical visits to help address patient adherence.
"While we've made great progress in addressing heart disease, many patients fail to experience the full benefit from their treatment plans for a variety of reasons," said Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006) and Chair of the Time to Talk CARDIO Advisory Board. "When patients and their physicians, nurses, or other health care professionals strengthen their communication skills by using the Hora de Hablar CARDIO tool, they can make the most of their time together during the medical visit."
A key component of Hora de Hablar CARDIO is a free, online, communication skill-building tool featuring more than 180 videos that demonstrate techniques to plan for medical visits, improve listening skills and problem-solve. Hora de Hablar CARDIO also offers free, cardiovascular-focused, educational resources for patients, health care professionals and organizations, including patient brochures, posters and goal setting work sheets. Materials are available to download or order at www.HoradeHablarCARDIO.com.
Consistent with Time to Talk CARDIO's development, in-clinic evaluation is an important part of Hora de Hablar CARDIO. Marianne McKennett, M.D., director at Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program in California, clinical professor of Family Medicine at University of California, San Diego, and American Academy of Family Physicians member, will help to test Hora de Hablar CARDIO by piloting the tool in her practice. Results from this pilot are expected in 2011.
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