Aetna launches tools to improve Cross-Cultural Awareness.

Aetna announced that it is offering health care providers, including physicians and nurses, and its internal clinical employees free access to the online, evidence-based courses, Quality Interactions: a Patient-Based Approach to Cross-Cultural Care. The e-learning program now is available to network providers, and nonparticipating providers who have filed a claim with Aetna, and offers case-based instruction on cross-cultural health care. Physicians and nurses completing the courses can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits respectively.

The courses are part of a new package of tools available on Aetna’s website for health care professionals. Other materials aimed at enhancing the medical community’s skills for treating diverse populations include a physician-focused video, “Crossing the Health Care Gap,” and Spanish-language patient education brochures on diabetes, cholesterol, medications, and patient safety that can be downloaded and printed.

“The evidence is compelling. Aetna must continue to build bridges with the medical community, and the private and public sectors, to reduce the racial and ethnic gaps that pervade health care today,” said Troy Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Aetna’s chief medical officer. In 2003, Aetna was the first national health benefits company to launch an integrated strategy to improve the quality of care for racial and ethnic minorities.

Studies show that racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality health care than non-minorities, even when insurance status, income, age and severity of conditions are comparable.

Aetna recognizes the critical need for its own staff to be culturally competent and was the first national health plan to offer the courses to its employees. Since 2003, the company has mandated completion of the Quality Interactions cross-cultural training for its internal clinical staff. New Aetna clinical employees are asked to take the full course within three months of hire. In addition, staff completing the original two-hour course will be offered a shorter, refresher course in 2007.

Quality Interactions was developed by the Manhattan Cross Cultural Group. This interactive program focuses on common clinical and/or cross-cultural scenarios that build a framework of knowledge and skills for delivering quality care to diverse patient populations.

To view the ‘Closing the Health Care Gap’ video CLICK below:

http://www.aetna.com/provider/diversity_in_healthcare.html