October is Health Literacy Month – a time when we can work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy – to build a world where our collective efforts will lead to health equity, where all people can attain positive health outcomes. Let’s commit to recognize the importance of making health information easy to understand and the health care system easier to navigate. We urge you to move health literacy awareness to health literacy action! #healthliteracymonth
Watch this short video of ‘Aha” moments when someone realizes the impact or importance of health literacy. (Institute for Healthcare Advancement)
There is an undeniable need for a broad commitment to organizational health literacy. The ramifications for not being able to access, understand and use vital health information can have devastating consequences. When a healthcare or social services organization, or even a State government office plans an initiative using health literacy principles as its foundation, it has the greatest opportunity to reach and impact the largest number of people. Importantly, when health literacy principles are used as the foundation for improvement initiatives, health literacy is being embedded across the organization, and a health literacy infrastructure is being built.
We are looking for stories of individuals and/or organizations that have made a concerted effort to improve communication and access for patients and community members. Do you have a story to share? If so, we would love to help you tell it. If you are willing to share, we would love to have a conversation with you. Tell Us Your Story.
Below are Health Literacy Webinars to further educate yourself on this topic; be sure to share with members of your team.
Empowering Health Literacy For All: October 5 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT
Join a panel of health literacy experts across backgrounds in health, art and business for a conversation around real-world applications of health literacy, their impacts and what you can do on an individual and organizational level to improve health outcomes.
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- Shelagh Fraser, MD (Internal Medicine Physician & Chief Medical Officer, Priority Physicians/LifeOmic),
- Russell Bennett (Strategy & Marketing Consultant, IHA)
- Terri Y. McGuire, MPH, MHS, PA-C (Physician Assistant & CEO, eVolve Health and Wellness Community)
- Michelle Paul (Health Writer & Content Manager, LifeOmic)
- DiAn Augustus (Artist & Storyteller)
Using an SMBP Program to Improve Health/Digital Literacy and Patient Involvement in Care: October 19 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT
This webinar will demonstrate how the integration of Bluetooth home blood pressure monitors, apps, and an interactive digital platform (MyDataHelps by CareEvolution) into an evidence-based community wellness initiative can support the improvement of health and digital literacy and increase patient involvement in their own care.
Objectives:
- Replicate this modestly budgeted, evidence-based, community-based SMBP wellness program focusing on the improvement of health/digital literacy.
- Capitalize on the increased sense of awareness and support that ancillary primary care support can provide to foster the improvement in patient/provider engagement.
- Integrate no to low cost digital platforms/apps into patient care or wellness programs to improve health and digital literacy and increase patient involvement in their own care.
Speakers: Cheryl Thompson, MSPH Co-Director, Institute for the Advancement of Women’s Health (IAWH), Abihirami Jeyarajan, MD Family Internist and Small Group/Office Hours Leader, Institute for the Advancement of Women’s Health (IAWH),
