The Center for Patient Partnerships
Upcoming Pilot Trainings for HR and EAP Professionals
Strategies to Help Employees Navigate the Health Care System
Training sessions in October and November in Madison, Menasha and Milwaukee. Additional session added to the WI State SHRM Conference in LaCrosse.
As health care systems grow more complex, employees and their families face many challenges as they attempt to access quality care. At the same time, employers' investments in health care benefit packages climb, and managers want to ensure employees are getting the most from their premium dollars. Faculty from the Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin will guide participants as they examine key challenges and strategies that human resource (HR) managers and employee assistance professionals (EAP) can use to help employees help themselves.
Need details about these sessions?
Program Objectives
Take-home lessons will include ways employers can help employees:
- become more engaged in their health care;
- recognize and assemble support in the community, and
- anticipate and manage medical debt and personal financial issues.
EAP and HR professionals will also learn ways to accommodate employees diagnosed with serious and life-threatening illnesses and what to expect following return to work.
Pilot Training Session Format
The day-long interactive training sessions will engage attendees in case-based discussions illustrating key information and resources that HR professionals and EAP can use to assist employees facing tough choices related to health care. The case-based training format encourages peer interaction and exchange of ideas, along with session facilitation by patient advocacy experts. Due to the one-on-one and small group nature of the case-based training format, attendance will be limited. Please see the registration details
Why take this training?
The health care systems complexity can prove overly burdensome for multiple stakeholders, especially EAP and HR professionals, who must translate confusing insurance programs and employment rules and regulations. More and more employees need support as they navigate health systems. This training will provide vital information, resources, support, and strategies enabling you to empower workers to help themselves.
Sample Case Synopsis
The following abbreviated case scenario is an example of the case-based training session format. Participants will be provided a case, which will allow them the opportunity to explore health care obstacles and strategies for overcoming them when employees are diagnosed with serious or life-threatening illness:
Emily is a Certified Public Accountant who works for an accounting firm. She is 46 years old and married with two children currently in middle school. Joe, her husband, is 50 years old and a mechanical engineer who works for a plastics company.
Emily has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been handling the recent events by immersing herself in work during this busy tax season.
Emily has now scheduled an appointment with the president of the company and the HR Director. They are under the impression that Emily has made this appointment to discuss the quarterly report. Emily has not yet shared her diagnosis with anyone because she has not wanted to face the reality of her situation, and also because it is mid-February, which is her employer's busiest time of the year. However, she has now scheduled this meeting to share the information.
What issues is Emily experiencing? What issues will the human resources director and president face once they learn of Emily's condition? How are these perspectives similar or not similar surrounding this issue? What might be some strategies for handling this employment scenario?
Want to Help?
As the Center for Patient Partnerships grows, you can help educate, advocate and innovate to make health systems more consumer-centered. Though we do not charge for our advocacy services, we welcome contributions to the Center. Please join the mission by contributing!
