Caregiver Education
Family caregivers play an integral role in the well being of individuals in need of medical care. However, they are often ill-equipped to recognize and meet the needs of their family members, particularly after hospitalization.
THE GAP
A growing body of work suggests that educating family caregivers is a cost-effective way to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmission rates, particularly in low resource areas where follow-up care options are limited.
OUR APPROACH
Starting in May 2018, Stanford Digital MEdIC and the not-for-profit, Noora Health, entered a collaboration to better understand how the different components of caregiver training contribute to improved patient practices and outcomes. Noora Health was founded at Stanford University and based in Bangalore, India that has recognized the importance of integrating family caregivers into the health delivery process.
DISSEMINATION
Noora Health has developed an in-hospital caregiver training model that they currently deliver in dozens of urban and rural hospitals across India. Noora trainers leverage visual tools including videos and flip charts to teach patients and their family members about best practices for follow-up care.
IMPACT EVALUATION
Currently, we are piloting a variety of model modifications aimed at increasing the effectiveness of Noora Health’s patient and caregiver engagement. We are also exploring the potential for digital learning reinforcements after hospitalization.
