FY14 National Health Education Program on Lupus for Healthcare Providers

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The purpose of the NHEPLHP is to eliminate lupus related health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations disproportionately affected by this disease. This overall purpose will be achieved by disseminating a national lupus education program to health professionals and student trainees in targeted schools and health care systems and practices. One grantee will be funded to conduct this national initiative. This grantee will be responsible for: (1) establishing a NHEPLHP consortium of federal and non-federal partners to promote the adoption and use of NHEPLH resources (e.g., culturally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and curriculum components, related tools and resources, and materials), to reduce misdiagnosis and improve overall health and wellbeing among persons with lupus.; (2) reviewing, if required, revising and finalizing NHEPLHP curriculum, tools, resources, and materials; (3) identifying and recruiting health professi ons school to adopt and use the NHEPLHP curriculum or curriculum components; (4) distributing lupus educational and training curricula, tools, and other resources to recruited schools, health professionals, health plans, hospitals, community health centers, and health care systems; and (5) conducting online and live trainings for practicing health care professionals. The above activities will be conducted by working collaboratively with the NHEPLHP consortium. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes a host of symptoms and poses significant disease management and treatment challenges for patients and health care providers. In autoimmune disorders such as lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates auto antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and organs. These auto antibodies cause inflammation, which damages organs and tissue. Although scientists have achieved significant advances in the treatment and management of this disease, there is still no cure for lupus . In the United States, lupus disproportionately affects African Americans, Asians, and American Indians. Persons of African Caribbean or African descent may also be at risk. Lupus is 2-3 times more common in African American populations. The age range for individuals with lupus also varies widely. Lupus can occur in very young children or the very old; however, the average age range for diagnosis of lupus is 

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