5-Diamond Patient Safety Program

To implement patient-centered communication practices, using effective techniques that appropriately address patients with limited health literacy, cultural barriers and/or low English proficiency.

• Complete the in-service training module on Health Literacy.
• Complete Health Literacy Assessment with 25% random sample of patients.
• 100% of staff review 8 Ways You Can Improve Health Communication and sign staff log.

• Present Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ ) Questions are the Answer videos to staff and patients.
• Review Do You Know the Right Questions to Ask? with patients and assist them with building their own question list.
• Complete My Medication Routine worksheet with patients. (Spanish)
• Display Freddie and Freda Fistula First Comic Strip.
• Complete the Health Literacy Word Search (Health Literacy Word Search ANSWERS)

• Health Literacy Assessment tools.
  • HLA Measurement
  • HLA Word List
  • HLA Word Definitions
• Teach Back (Method): Confirm the Spoken Word.
• Health Literacy Facts and Figures.
• Quick Guide to Health Literacy.
• Plain Language Thesaurus for health care.
• Health Literacy Consulting, helps individuals and organizations communicate health information in ways patients, families, and employees can understand.
• U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus, provides health information in languages other than English.

• 100% of staff in-serviced on Health Literacy.
• 100% of staff read 8 Ways You Can Improve Health Communication and sign staff log.
• 25% random sample of patients complete Health Literacy Assessment.

After you have completed this module, and have documented the required measures, please submit the following documents via mail or fax.

5-Diamond Patient Safety Program
1360 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55108
651-644-9853 Fax

1. Completed Project Reporting Form.
2. In-service attendance log. (Please note that the facility in-service must be completed as a group.)
3. 8 Ways You Can Improve Communication log.
4. De-Identified copies of the completed Health Literacy Assessment.

For more assistance contact us at 5diamondsafety@nw11.esrd.net or at 651-644-9877.