Healthcare providers collaborate for better health literacy

It is estimated that nearly half of American adults—90 million people—have only basic or below-basic health literacy skills, leading to difficulty understanding and acting on health information.

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Persons with limited health literacy skills use more services, including hospitalization and emergency services and fewer preventive services. As a result, the cost of low health literacy to the United States economy is in the range of $106 billion to $236 billion annually (Vernon, et al., 2007).

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and Project Learn are bringing together leaders in the field of health literacy to increase awareness; share resources; and build capacity for a statewide collaboration among healthcare providers for the Ohio Health Literacy Conference October 26, 2012, at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. This daylong event is the culmination of the four-part Ohio Health Literacy Conference Series. Registration for the October 26^th conference is $40 per person.

In partnership with the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio, Better Health Greater Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, MetroHealth and Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio, OHLC will serve as a forum for best practices, tools, tips and rationale for health literacy.

Health literacy is a patient’s ability to understand and act on health information. It is also a provider’s ability to communicate so patient’s can act on health information. It isn’t about person’s ability to read or write; it’s about understanding and the action that results from that understanding.

“The Ohio Health Literacy Conference will give us the opportunity to take the next step in increasing health literacy awareness and to begin collaborations with local, state and national experts,” said Karen Komondor, RN, CCRN, chair of the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Health Literacy Institute and the Ohio Health Literacy Conference Committee, and Director of Education at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.

Dr. Cynthia Baur, Senior Advisor for Health Literacy, at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and author of the national action plan for health literacy, will present a keynote address and discussion.

Dr. Christina L. Cordero, associate project director at The Joint Commission, will also be a featured speaker. Her work is focused on standards development projects for the hospital and laboratory accreditation programs.

“We are hoping the Conference will appeal to a diverse audience,” said Komondor. “The health literacy field cuts across many lines of work, such as public health, clinical care and education. This is a great opportunity for participants to hear national experts and learn best practices.”

All healthcare providers, physicians, nurses, administrative staff, social workers, dietitians, health plan administrators, adult literacy professionals, public health professionals and health literacy professionals from hospitals, universities and other organizations throughout Ohio are encouraged to attend this important conference.

Complete conference and registration information is online at www.stvincentcharity.com/OHLC. Space is limited, so sign up early.