Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
17-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
17-4-2026 1:00 PM
Description
Introduction:
Limited health literacy remains a major contributor to healthcare disparities, particularly among rural, uninsured, migrant, and Spanish-speaking populations. Many individuals report anxiety and confusion about how to schedule appointments, complete paperwork, understand costs, and communicate effectively with physicians. To address this gap, Community Rx developed a bilingual, student-led workshop titled The ABCs of Your Doctor’s Visit, designed to demystify the healthcare encounter and improve patient confidence, appointment preparedness, and navigation skills. The curriculum aligns with broader Community Rx goals of empowering underserved populations while fostering empathy and professional identity development among osteopathic medical students
Methods:
This ongoing, community-engaged initiative includes development of a culturally tailored video module, laminated keychain reference cards, bilingual handouts, and an interactive workshop format. The ABC framework guides participants through each step of a healthcare visit, from selecting the appropriate care setting and scheduling appointments to understanding intake forms, costs, vital signs, and follow-up planning. Workshops will be delivered in English and Spanish at trusted community partner sites. Evaluation will use pre- and post-session surveys assessing self-efficacy, appointment preparedness, understanding of healthcare flow, and comfort communicating with providers. Student facilitators will also complete structured reflections to assess growth in cultural humility and communication skills. IRB submission is planned prior to formal data collection.
Results:
The first workshop is scheduled for Spring 2026, with an anticipated reach of 100+ community participants across multiple sessions in rural Georgia. Primary outcomes include improved participant-reported confidence in preparing for appointments, understanding medical processes, and asking questions during visits. Secondary outcomes include increased student-reported empathy and comfort delivering bilingual health education. Data collection is ongoing, and full results will be available following initial workshop implementation.
Discussion:
Community Rx represents a scalable, low-cost, bilingual intervention aimed at strengthening healthcare navigation skills in underserved communities. By breaking down the doctor’s visit into accessible, structured steps, this initiative seeks to reduce fear, improve communication, and promote proactive engagement with care. Simultaneously, the program provides experiential learning for medical students grounded in osteopathic principles of whole-person care and community partnership. If effective, this model may serve as a replicable toolkit for other medical institutions seeking to integrate health literacy training into community engagement efforts.
Embargo Period
5-26-2026
Included in
Community Rx: The ABCs of a Doctor’s Visit, A Bilingual Health Navigation Workshop for Underserved Communities
Moultrie, GA
Introduction:
Limited health literacy remains a major contributor to healthcare disparities, particularly among rural, uninsured, migrant, and Spanish-speaking populations. Many individuals report anxiety and confusion about how to schedule appointments, complete paperwork, understand costs, and communicate effectively with physicians. To address this gap, Community Rx developed a bilingual, student-led workshop titled The ABCs of Your Doctor’s Visit, designed to demystify the healthcare encounter and improve patient confidence, appointment preparedness, and navigation skills. The curriculum aligns with broader Community Rx goals of empowering underserved populations while fostering empathy and professional identity development among osteopathic medical students
Methods:
This ongoing, community-engaged initiative includes development of a culturally tailored video module, laminated keychain reference cards, bilingual handouts, and an interactive workshop format. The ABC framework guides participants through each step of a healthcare visit, from selecting the appropriate care setting and scheduling appointments to understanding intake forms, costs, vital signs, and follow-up planning. Workshops will be delivered in English and Spanish at trusted community partner sites. Evaluation will use pre- and post-session surveys assessing self-efficacy, appointment preparedness, understanding of healthcare flow, and comfort communicating with providers. Student facilitators will also complete structured reflections to assess growth in cultural humility and communication skills. IRB submission is planned prior to formal data collection.
Results:
The first workshop is scheduled for Spring 2026, with an anticipated reach of 100+ community participants across multiple sessions in rural Georgia. Primary outcomes include improved participant-reported confidence in preparing for appointments, understanding medical processes, and asking questions during visits. Secondary outcomes include increased student-reported empathy and comfort delivering bilingual health education. Data collection is ongoing, and full results will be available following initial workshop implementation.
Discussion:
Community Rx represents a scalable, low-cost, bilingual intervention aimed at strengthening healthcare navigation skills in underserved communities. By breaking down the doctor’s visit into accessible, structured steps, this initiative seeks to reduce fear, improve communication, and promote proactive engagement with care. Simultaneously, the program provides experiential learning for medical students grounded in osteopathic principles of whole-person care and community partnership. If effective, this model may serve as a replicable toolkit for other medical institutions seeking to integrate health literacy training into community engagement efforts.