Outreach education and training projects are an important component of PEHSU’s mission to improve outcomes in reproductive and pediatric environmental health. Project formats include clinician training, community outreach education, and the development of environmental health resources. Project topics are guided by requests and consultations, to best address the needs and concerns of the communities we serve.
Focused Clinician Training
Providing training and educational opportunities to healthcare providers is one way we work to increase awareness and knowledge about reproductive and environmental health within the medical community. Many of the environmental risks that lead to poor health outcomes can be mitigated with proper healthcare provider education and preparation. Healthcare providers are well-positioned to deliver the education and care needed to protect children from environmental threats and to share relevant information with colleagues. Our staff has participated in Grand Rounds, taught annual courses, developed and run clinician workshops, and presented on environmental health topics at local, regional, and national levels. Past examples include:
- annual course on lead, pesticides, and air pollution at Seattle Children’s Hospital Practical Pediatrics
- Environmental Exposures and Reproductive Health: What Providers Should Know lecture at the Idaho Perinatal Project Winter Conference
- Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Are Exposures Harmful? at the University of Washington Medicine Grand Rounds
- Understanding Pediatric Outcomes from Pesticides and Nitrates at Yakima Memorial Hospital
- intensive regional workshops on common topics in pediatric environmental health
Outreach Education
Community outreach helps us understand the needs and concerns of the different communities we serve and provides an opportunity to teach key strategies for minimizing harm from environmental factors to the public. Outreach efforts are often done in collaboration with local agencies or organizations. Examples of outreach related efforts include:
- participating in community forums and public meetings addressing environmental health concerns
- assisting public agencies after community are affected by an exposure
- responding to media requests for experts to assist in coverage of regional and national issues in pediatric environmental health
- serving on advisory committees such as the Washington State Governor's Safe Children's Products Act Committee
Development of Educational Tools and Environmental Health Resources
The NW PEHSU team works to improve reproductive and pediatric health outcomes by creating tools that translate the available research on environmental health issues and provide evidence-based strategies for prevention and management of related health effects. These tools can then serve as resources for clinicians and community members. Examples of educational tools NW PEHSU has created or assisted in developing include:
- online continuing education course Pesticide and Child Health
- online continuing education webinar Lead in Idaho
- downloadable factsheet for clinicians Interpreting and Managing Low Blood Lead Levels
- downloadable factsheet for clinicians Nitrates, Methemoglobinemia, and Drinking Water