Starting Up and Advancing Health Literacy Programs: The Role of Clear Health Communication in Your Company’s Success (Part 1)

A Special 2- Part Health Literacy Series 

In 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a landmark report documenting the impact of low health literacy on the health of our nation. Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to read, understand and act on medical information and instructions. It is the result of an interaction between the individual, with his or her unique communication skills and deficits, and the health care system and its style of communication.

Research clearly shows that patients who understand and can carry out the instructions provided to them do better on many dimensions, including managing chronic disease, fewer admissions to emergency rooms and hospitals, medication compliance, and overall health status.

The role of health literacy takes on increasing importance in a health care system facing an epidemic of chronic care that demands consumers play a larger role in managing and optimizing their own health and health status. Yet, as the IOM showed in compelling fashion, there is a significant gap for many Americans between the information they get during their interactions in health care and their ability to understand and act on it.

This is a problem that affects your company’s goal of engaging consumers, and it affects every area of your operations. It must be addressed by all of the disciplines whose work—directly or indirectly—involves communicating with your members.

This Virtual Seminar will provide the tools you need to start up and advance your health literacy programs, including: 

• Background on health literacy and the importance of clear health communication to health insurance plans’ operations.
• The basic elements of a health literacy program: what steps do health plans need to take to develop and advance a commitment to clear health communication? What are the internal and external roadblocks and how can they be overcome?
• Case studies from local, regional, and national companies whose programs are maturing. How are they achieving their goals? How are they measuring success? What lessons can we learn from their experiences? What tools can we borrow and share?
• Resources and tools available to companies as they develop their programs

Faculty will include nationally renowned health literacy experts and professionals from a variety of disciplines in health insurance plans that have helped to build a capacity for clear health communication in their organizations.

Part I - July 29, 2010 | 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Health Literacy Overview and Steps for Implementing Your Own Program 
Susan Pisano
Vice President Strategic Communications, America’s Health Insurance Plans

Jessica Ridpath
Coordinator of Research Communications, Center for Health Studies, Group Health Research Institute

Jill Griffiths
Vice President, and Head of Thought Leadership, Clinical and Provider Relations, Aetna, Inc.

 

Part II – August 5, 2010 | 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Starting Up and Advancing Your Company’s Health Literacy Program
Susan Pisano, 
Vice President Strategic Communications, America’s Health Insurance Plans

Dexter L. Campinha-Bacote, MD
Medical Director, Aetna, Mid-America Region

Crystal Duran
Clinical Program Manager, CIGNA HealthCare

The content presented in this audio conference is solely attributable to the speaker and does not represent an endorsement by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of the accuracy of the information presented in the audio conference or any opinion expressed by the speake