Native American health news channel

Howka tribal members, I just got an email about a Native American health news channel and wanted to share.. I think it would be great to implament this into our health clinics..

Native American health news
channel available
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_133ac88e-83f1-11df-960a-001cc4c03286.html

Native American
health news channel available
By SARA KINCAID Bismarck Tribune |


At first glance, it appears to be a
cable news channel like any other.

There's someone giving a report, and
a crawl across the bottom, but watch a while, and it's obvious this is not just
any news station.

The station is Good Health TV, which
gives Native American communities health news on the television sets in clinic
waiting rooms.

“It’s Native American specific, which
is nice,” said Jared Eagle, the health educator at Minne-Tohe Health Clinic in
New Town.

Good Health TV is a division of KAT
Communications in Bismarck. The channel is shown to 50 tribes in 11 states. The
program started in Fort Yates in 2005. It is funded in part by a grant from
Indian Health Services.

The clinic in New Town started using
it two years ago, at a time when officials decided to provide only health
education materials in the clinic lobby. Until the clinic started that policy,
the TV was tuned to talk shows, game shows or other daytime television, Eagle
said.

“We did a user survey and 84 percent
of respondents said they learned something new from watching it,” Eagle said.
“They have to watch it because we have a small waiting room.”

The channel shows information on
diabetes, wellness, gang violence and nutrition. Local people produce the
segments for the areas that are served. Communities are able to customize what
they see, and include community events or emergency information on the
station.

“When they see themselves on
the screen, they connect with it,” said KAT Communications owner Todd
Muggerud.

The channel is streamed over the
Internet and is a subscription-based service. KAT Communications hopes to get
the station shown in more than medical centers, such as schools and people’s
homes.