March 9 , 2009

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(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

CentraCare Clinic – Women & Children, Mid-Minnesota Family Medicine Center join statewide cultural understanding project

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – To help health care providers become more effective in caring for diverse populations, CentraCare Clinic – Women & Children and the Mid-Minnesota Family Medicine Center are participating in an 18-month initiative that encompasses more than 25 primary care clinics across Minnesota.

Through the Culture Care Connection 2009-2010 project of Stratis Health, clinic staff will complete an online questionnaire to evaluate how well the clinics meet national cultural and linguistic standards. When the assessment results are in hand, each clinic will develop an action plan that will include staff training. A post-assessment will measure progress.

“This initiative complements the work of the health literacy/cultural competency specialist who joined CentraCare Health System in 2008,” said Diane Buschena-Brenna, administrator of the Mid-Minnesota Family Medicine Center.

“We are excited about the learning opportunities for staff and the service improvements for patients that this initiative presents,” said Pat Faust, site administrator for CentraCare Clinic – Women & Children.

CentraCare Clinic sites in Melrose and Long Prairie completed the cultural competency initiative in 2008. “Cultural awareness training will not by itself eliminate health disparities, but it does develop necessary skills for physicians, nurses, and other staff members,” said Julia Draxten, site coordinator, CentraCare Clinic - Melrose. “Building a better understanding between patients and our clinic team brings our care to a new level, decreases the risk of misunderstandings, and allows us to deliver high quality to every patient.”

Culture Care Connection 2009-2010 is led by Stratis Health, a non-profit organization that works with providers on health care quality and safety issues. The project is supported by UCare, an independent, non-profit health plan.

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