The NHC Center of Educational Excellence Provides Online Learning Opportunities

By Deasia Lamar, Communications Intern

The health care ecosystem is broad and can often be daunting for patients who want to actively engage in it. Understanding research, policy, medical-product development, quality of care, and the value of treatments is essential for those who want to lend their voices to the health policy debate and other initiatives. The National Health Council (NHC) provides the tools and resources needed for the patient community to understand and engage in complex topics through a series of online learning opportunities. 

The NHC Center of Educational Excellence is an e-learning resource that helps patients and patient advocates navigate complex health care topics to enhance engagement. The NHC hosts patient–centered webinars with experts from across the health ecosystem. Our Center of Educational Excellence currently features: 

Value Classroom 

Value assessment for treatments and services can affect patient access and affordability.  The NHC has developed the Value Classroom, a compilation of training modules and tools, to help patients and patient advocates understand and participate in discussions about value and the assessment of health care services and treatments. 

The NHC Value Classroom includes, “In the Pursuit of Value: Introduction to Health Economics and Value Assessment,” a free online course comprised of nine modules focused on what the patient community needs to know about health economics and value assessment.  

The classroom also includes: 

• Value Assessment Glossary 
• Value Framework Get-Ready Checklist For Patient Organizations 
• Considerations Guide for Patient Organizations 
• Pearls of Wisdom from Members of the Patient Community 
• The Patient Voice in Value: The NHC Patient-Centered Value Model Rubric 
• Domains of Patient Centeredness in Value Assessment
• Value Assessment: Incorporating The Patient Voice 

Quality 

The NHC developed a six-part educational series on quality in which participants explore how health care quality is defined, how to assess quality, and how patient advocates can work to improve health care quality. Click here to begin learning.  

Patient–Focused Medical Product Development Webinar Series 

The NHC’s Patient-Focused Medical Product Development (PFMPD) series covers a broad range of subjects, including patient preference research, patient engagement in clinical trial design, as well as medical device development. The NHC seeks to ensure that its membership is prepared to engage in conversations on all aspects of PFMPD. This series is complementary to our other work in PFPMD, including: Case Examples, Sponsor-Patient Engagement Toolbox, and Rubric to Capture the Patient Voice. Click here to watch the webinars. 

PCOR Training 

Patient engagement for patients with rare diseases is unique. This training program was developed through a partnership between the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and the University of Maryland and focuses on patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR). This two-day training series is designed to help patients and patient advocates in the rare disease community become equipped with information about the patient centered outcomes research process and collaboration skills so they can become engaged in this research. Click here to access the training materials.  

The NHC is constantly updating the Center of Excellence offerings. So, check back regularly to learn about upcoming webinars and training opportunities. For more information or if you have any questions, please email nhcprograms@nhcouncil.org.