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Understanding the scope and impact of health literacy is also vital to how your organization communicates critical health information to patients and provider.
The movement to enhanced health outcomes through improved health literacy is gaining momentum. A growing number of prominent organizations are using Partnership-developed materials to educate and motivate their provider and patient memberships with the goal of increasing positive health outcomes for all patients.
Organizations nationwide are doing a variety of things - most of them taking very little time - to support the goals of the Partnership and help improve our nation's health literacy dramatically and immediately. Your organization can participate in these activities as well, starting today.
- Broaden your knowledge of the low health literacy issue and associated concerns so that you can help your constituents, patients and providers. The following items are available in our download center:
- Ask Me 3 materials for patients and providers
- Examples of simple interventions
- A list of literacy resources
- A white paper detailing the scope and impact of low health literacy - and solutions that address the issue
- A bibliography of research studies
- Request that your organization's human resources department include this brochure among member-orientation materials.
- Request that department heads review this brochure at your next staff meeting.
- Include an article on the scope and impact of health literacy - and solutions such as Ask Me 3 - in your newsletter or on your Web site.
- Display Ask Me 3 posters in your offices to encourage staff members to spread the word.
- Conduct local outreach to promote clear health communication at hospitals and community centers.
- Distribute Ask Me 3 materials and other health literacy information to your constituents.
- Dedicate a section or panel to health literacy at your next convention or meeting. Helpful resources to increase the impact of this outreach are available on this site.
- Distribute Ask Me 3 patient and provider brochures at health fairs and events.
- Support funding for health literacy research and local literacy/English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.
- Share Ask Me 3 and other health literacy materials, as well as your concern about health literacy, with:
- Your state legislators
- Your congressional representatives and senators
- Advocacy groups in which you participate
If your organization would like to join the Partnership for Clear Health Communication or learn when new tools are available, please visit http://www.npsf.org/pchc or call 1-617-391-9900. Together, we can make a difference!
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Only 50 percent of all patients take medications as directed, leading to compliance issues and possible negative health outcomes. |
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Adults with low health literacy average 6 percent more hospital visits - and remain in the hospital nearly two days longer - than adults with higher health literacy. |
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Annual health care costs for those with low literacy skills are four times higher than for those with higher literacy skills. |
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