Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108085

Ahmed E. Martínez, MA, Community Services, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, 1501 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-797-4345, amartinez@hispanichealth.org

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health operates two national bilingual Health information helplines: National Hispanic Prenatal Helpline and Su Familia, The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline. Both helplines were designed to respond to the emerging health needs of the growing Hispanic population and meet the Healthy People 2010 objective of eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in the US. The telephone helplines are supported by the most up-to-date database of over 20,000 health care providers in the US. Health care providers have been included in the database based on their capacity to provide culturally and linguistically proficient services, as well as their location in communities with large or emerging Hispanic populations.

As the Hispanic population continues to grow, health promotion tools, such as the Internet and helplines, increase potential to propel health education and information and expand outreach. While many health care institutions and government agencies have adapted standards for culturally competent care, many organizations still are not able to provide health information in a manner that address the needs of Hispanic consumers.

The presentation will discuss the integration of a traditional helpline model with consumer-based innovative health information strategies, new technologies and culturally proficient materials providing a more comprehensive level of health information to Hispanics. The presentation will review execution of fundamental day-to-day helpline operations, and specific details on implementation of culturally proficient health information in a helpline platform.

Learning Objectives: