The LA Health Services’ Ambulatory Care Network (ACN) held three educational workshops for their providers to advance their medical knowledge, strengthen clinic community togetherness, and create space for self-care. The events were held in-person on three separate days, on April 30th, May 1st, and May 2nd for a half-day of learning. Since the ACN’s providers include Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners across all of Los Angeles County, the workshops were divided by region and held in locations convenient for the attendees.
The workshops began with breakfast (courtesy of LA Care) and time for providers to network. The first component of the program was led by Dr. Andrew Golden from LA Care’s SullivanLuallin Group and focused on Efficient and Effective visits and how to manage expectations from themselves and their patients.
Providers were then offered the opportunity to attend one of two didactics, either Contemporary Heart Failure Management by Dr. Robin Chand from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center or Tools on Pediatric Headache by Dr. Sinifunanya Nwaobi from UCLA’s Goldberg Migraine Program. All educational lectures focused on current best practice approaches to these disease states in the primary care setting and allowed for providers to ask question and discuss concerns.
As the workshops came to their last hour, providers experienced Creative Wellbeing workshops brought by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. Creative Wellbeing is an approach for building communities of wellness especially for systems-impacted youth, those at-risk of becoming systems-impacted, and the adults who support them. Creative Wellbeing is developed collaboratively by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, Office of Child Protection (OCP), Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN). Each workshop offered the opportunity to work with an artist to learn about self- and community-care, and the power of vulnerability through relaxation, and self-expression. On April 30th, African Soul International presented lessons on community-building and teamwork through West African dance. May 1st gave way to ArtworxLA who introduced the group to self-expression and relaxation through art and breathing mindfulness techniques. May 2nd culminated the 3-day workshops with the Homeboy Art Academy, where providers learned to draw their own medicine bag and reflect on their own systems of support through art, color and memory.
It was an enlightening three days with very positive feedback from providers, some requesting these types of training occur more often and others suggesting possible future topics. The ACN is devoted to supporting providers with continuing education and tools that will lead them to success with the patients and communities they serve, as well as serve their personal and career trajectory. In order to advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care, we must ensure we serve the providers that make it all possible.
For further information, please contact: Diana Gonzalez at dgonzalez7@dhs.lacounty.gov
