Recent Developments

PPECA has recently received NN/LM GMR funding to continue their work and develop a train-the-trainer initiative for underserved areas in Eastern Iowa in partnership with the University of Iowa with the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences as the lead institution. Other collaborators are the UI College of Public Health and the UI hospital and clinics. For more information, please see the funding announcement.

Check back to this web site for more information on dates for upcoming sessions and materials to support the new initiative. For an overview of previous PPECA activities, see Zipperer L., Berendsen M., Walton, L. "Consumers as Partners: Empowering Patients at the Public Library." Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, March/April 2006.

Who is PPECA?

Partnering for Patient Empowerment through Community Awareness (PPECA) is a collaboration among patient safety advocates, health sciences librarians, health care institutions, and public libraries. During the first half of 2005 we held several informational sessions at public libraries throughout Northern Illinois to raise awareness and educate consumers on patient safety issues. Take a look at the calendar below for more information on specific sessions. In February 2006, we conducted a train the trainer's program for librarians interested in creating public programming based on the PPECA model.

What is PPECA's mission?

• To improve communication among key players regarding patient safety--the consumer, the healthcare professional, and the public librarian--so that the best quality care is provided to patients
  
• To improve consumer awareness about patient safety and health care resources so that patients can better understand the importance of information and feel empowered to accept an active role in health care

What is PPECA doing?

• Creating partnership programs between public libraries and healthcare institutions in five communities
  
• Providing patient safety community awareness programs in public libraries
  
• Developing and presenting a train-the-trainers program for public and consumer health librarians
  
• Developing a toolkit that can be used by libraries for developing a patient safety partnership and awareness program in their community
  
• Creating a display that can be loaned to libraries and hospitals interested in promoting patient safety