Health Literacy in Rhode Island

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Health Literacy in Rhode Island

• Mary Ellen Casey
• BCBSRI Health Literacy Program
• Steering Committee Member

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What is Health Literacy?

• The American Medical Association defines health
  literacy as the ability to read, understand, and
  use health information to make appropriate
  healthcare decisions and follow instructions for
  treatment.
• Low health literacy results from
• Limited literacy
• Emotions associated with healthcare environment
• Language barriers
• Cultural barriers
• Complexity of self-care
• Age or physical barriers

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Why Focus on Health Literacy?

• A widespread problem half of American adults
  90 million people have difficulty understanding
  and acting upon health information
• Poor health literacy estimated to cost the
  national healthcare system 58 billion annually
• Patients who fail to read at the 3rd grade level
  cost Medicaid close to 11,000 patients who read
  above 3rd grade level cost just under 3,000
• Source 2004 Institute of Medicine report, Health
  Literacy A Prescription to End Confusion

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The Problem in Rhode Island

• Half of Rhode Island adults fail to read at a 3rd
  grade level
• This is a problem because
• Patients are asked to perform more complex self
  care
• Patients are seen as active consumers rather than
  passive recipients of healthcare
  Source
  2002 Nellie Mae Education Foundation study

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The Rhode Island Health Literacy Project (RIHLP)

• A statewide coalition of public health, adult
  education, and medical organizations
• Our mission
• Through a collaborative approach, the RIHLP seeks
  to heighten awareness of health literacy issues
  so that all Rhode Islanders better communicate
  and understand health information, treatment
  options, and self-care instructions.
• Our objectives
• To collaboratively develop and execute health
  literacy initiatives aimed at increasing the
  health literacy level of all Rhode Islanders, and
  
• To increase the size of the population who
  understand health information and self-care
  instructions.

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RIHLP Initiatives

• Advance Directives Awareness and Education
• Physician/Provider Cultural Competency Training
• Physician Toolkit and Patient Education Materials
• Basic Healthcare Curriculum
• Health Literacy on the Road Educational Series
• Medication Safety Brochure
• Medication Tracking Pocket Card
• Checkup Checklist
• RIHLP Web Site
• Health Literacy Month in October
• Guidelines for Written Materials

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1. Advance Directives Awareness and Education

• Project Objectives
• Increase the number of physicians who discuss and
  document conversations about advance directives
• Ensure patients understand advance directives

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2. Physician/Provider Cultural Competency
Training

• Project Objectives
• Increase the number of physicians/providers who
  receive cultural competency training
• Increase the adoption of the Culturally and
  Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
  standards in physician office practices
• Reduce healthcare disparities

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3. Physician Toolkit andPatient Education
Materials

• Project Objective
• Support better communication between patients and
  physicians, resulting in higher treatment
  compliance, fewer medication errors, and better
  utilization of healthcare services

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4. Basic Healthcare Curriculum

• Project Objectives
• Increase understanding of health information
• Increase consumer compliance with treatment plans
• Decrease inappropriate ER utilization
• Increase utilization of preventive care

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5. Health Literacy on the Road Educational Series

• Project Objectives
• Increase understanding of health information
• Assist in meeting other RIHLP objectives

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6. Medication Safety Brochure and 7. Tracking
Pocket Card

• Project Objectives
• Educate consumers about how to use medications
  properly and provide a tool for tracking
  medication usage
• Reduce medication errors and improve patient
  safety

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8. Checkup Checklist

• Project Objectives
• Educate consumers about how to prepare for and
  get the most from their visits to the doctor
• Minimize medication errors and improve patients
  understanding of treatment instructions

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9. RIHLP Web Site www.RIHLP.org

• Project Objective
• Create a place for people to go to obtain
  information on the purpose, history, goals,
  projects, and tools associated with the RIHLP and
  health literacy in general

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10. Health Literacy Month in October

• Project Objectives
• Raise awareness about the problems associated
  with low health literacy
• Encourage more public health, adult education,
  and medical organizations to join our efforts to
  improve health literacy in Rhode Island

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11. Guidelines for Written Materials

• Project Objectives
• Develop a tool for organizations who to use when
  communicating healthcare information to consumers
• Increase consumers' understanding of health
  information

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Questions?

• Lori Quaranta, MPH
• Health Literacy Project Steering Committee Chair
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
• [phone]
• Lori.Quaranta_at_BCBSRI.org