Imagine a community where health care providers and researchers learn directly from patients what actually matters in their communities, where patients learn from providers how to stay healthy, not just how to get well after and illness has occurred.
Imagine a community where health care providers and patients speak each other's languages -- providers are culturally competent and patient are health literate, learning from one another to create trust and build lasting relationships.
This is a learning health care community. We want to start building it with you.
- What is a Learning Health Care Community?
- What is the Goal of the LHCC Study?
- Advisory Board Members
- What's Next?
- Contact Us
What is a Learning Health Care Community?
A learning health care community (LHCC) is a different way of thinking about the way health care systems and the communities they serve interact. It’s an extension of the current learning health care system, which focuses on collaboration once patients come in for care.
Instead, a Learning Health Care Community is one where health care providers, researchers, and administrators engage area residents in an on-going communication to establish trust, remain healthy, and improve health literacy before treatment is needed.
Supported by a two-year, $250,000 grant from Merck, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is developing a new approach -- a Learning Health Care Community – focused on continuous patient engagement and establishing partnerships with churches, organizations, providers, caregivers, healthcare facilities, and other area stakeholders. The project involves community leaders in facilitating patient engagement and collecting information with the community itself, from the outset, in an environment centered on comfort and trust.
The PATIENTS Program has embarked on a new project called a Learning Health Care Community. In this short video, the PATIENTS team define the goals of the project and advisory board members provide their thoughts on how a Learning Health Care Community can empower patients.
What is the Goal of the LHCC Study?
According to a report on Learning Healthcare Systems -- a collaborative model of research and patient care developed by the Institute of Medicine, now National Academy of Medicine,"Meaningful engagement of patients in their own care has been associated with better patient experiences, health, quality of life, and better economic outcomes, and if implemented properly, has the potential to reduce costs."
Overarching Project Objectives
In order to achieve a more equitable healthcare system, develop an innovative framework for a “Learning Health Care Community” that adapts the Learning Healthcare System model to more effectively address the diverse needs of medically underserved communities.
Future (Long-term) Objectives
Cultivate culturally compelling and culturally appropriate programs and services among healthcare institutions and improve health literacy among community members who together can engage and empower an informed Learning Health Care Community Model.
Advisory Board Members:
The LHCC Advisory Board is a microcosm of what a successful learning health care community will be: health system leadership, researchers, doctors, and other care providers, patients, and community advocacy groups, learning from and teaching each other in a continuum that promotes increased health outcomes and fewer disparities, based on lack of understanding and engagement.
Jennifer Baldwin, RN, MPA
Senior Vice President for Patient-Centered Medical Home
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Jacqueline (Jackie) Caldwell
President of Greater Mondawmin Coordinating Council (GMCC)
Baltimore Civic Site Administrator, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Damion J. Cooper, MTh
Director, Office of Neighborhood Relations at Baltimore City Council
Founder/Executive Director, Project Pneuma
Marcia Cort, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAAEM
Chief Medical Officer
Total Health Care, Inc.
Gail Graham
Director, Mt. Lebanon Baptist HIV/AIDS Outreach Services
Global Representative for Community Advisory Board
Johns Hopkins Community Advisory Board for HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials
Karen Kippen, MSA
Executive Director, Patient Centered Outcomes Research
Henry Ford Health System<
What's Next?
The study has been completed and the LHCC team is beginning to disseminate study findings to various stakeholders via community gatherings, conferences, and other media.
Download this infographic for a non-technical summary of our findings.
Contact Us:
For more information about participating in the LHCC study, contact patients@rx.umaryland.edu or call (410) 706-8389.