October 2008 — Communicating effectively with health care professionals can be challenging under the best of circumstances, however, without the proper preparation and understanding there could be devastating consequences. Alternatively, improved communications between patients/family caregivers and healthcare professionals can improve clinical outcomes, safety and save money.

A FREE national telephone class for family caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month will be held on November 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. ET hosted by the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA). The two-part telephone class Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals, is designed to improve the ability of family caregivers to communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals and become better healthcare advocates for themselves and their loved ones.

National Family Caregivers Month is a time designated to thank, support, educate and empower more than 50 million family caregivers across the country currently providing over $350 billion in "free" caregiving services.

"This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month." said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and co-founder. "Dealing with our fractured healthcare system is not easy. Family caregivers play a key role in assisting and advocating for their loved one through the healthcare maze. Being able to communicate effectively is critical to ensuring loved ones receive safe and high quality care as well as for themselves."

For more information on National Family Caregivers Month and to register for the FREE Family Caregiver national telephone class; Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals, visit here. or call 800-896-3650.

Grant funding for the development, transmission and promotion of this learning experience is provided by Medtronic Foundation, Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation with additional support provided by Intel's Digital Health Group, AGIS, Eisai Inc., Evercare, and the MetLife Foundation.