Project CARE celebrated their kickoff recently with a special presentation and ribbon cutting.

Project CARE is modeled after the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Project Boost “Teach-Back” process. Through the teach-back process, once the patient has been given care instructions by the medical provider, the patient is then asked to “teach back” what he or she has just been told, in order to ensure understanding. When necessary, the care provider will re-explain care instructions, and have the patient teach back what they have learned again.

It is estimated that only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy, and those with limited health literacy are more likely to be readmitted to inpatient care providers. By increasing healthcare literacy through the teach-back process, Project CARE is hoping to reduce the number of 30 day inpatient readmissions.

Unit 7B is the pilot unit for Project Care.