This Month in the News
Mary A. Pittman, Ph.D., president of the Health Research and Educational Trust, was quoted in a June 19, 2006 article published by United Press International that examined new ethics guidelines for doctor-patient communication released by the American Medical Association . The article notes that “communication breakdowns are the most common root cause of health care errors that harm patients” and that focusing on communication, especially with those patients who have limited English proficiency, could help to reverse this trend. Pittman states that “not only do health care workers need training on how to communicate more effectively with patients, but health care organizations also need to provide staff with tools and resources necessary to overcome language and cultural barriers.”
Susan Zahner, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, School of Nursing, was recently awarded the Excellence in Public Health Research Award from the Wisconsin Public Health Association . Zahner was honored for her research focusing on the public health system, including studies on collaborative partnerships, public health nurses, and the performance of rural public health systems.
