The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
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Health Literacy

 

The definition of health literacy has developed into more than just the ability to read health information. The most widely accepted definition today is, "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”
 
  
Research from the American Medical Association found that "poor health literacy is a stronger predictor of a person's health than age, income, employment status, education level and race."

Furthermore, an estimated 90 million Americans suffer from low health literacy, consequently creating an average of $7500 more in healthcare costs for the individual and between $50-73 billion more for the US Healthcare system.
 
  
To address the issue of low health literacy in Central Texas, the Literacy Coalition has implemented its Health Literacy Initiative, forming strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and adult education institutions in order to raise awareness and promote strategies to improve patient-provider communication, and thus improve the health of our community members.  The Health Literacy Initiative's primary method of addressing poor health communication is to hold health literacy trainings for both adult education programs and for healthcare professionals. 

 

Health literacy trainings for adult education instructors will cover teaching methods and lesson planning strategies to incorporate health-related information into the classroom, helping students become self-advocates of their health and that of their families. The Literacy Coalition is happy to customize trainings to meet each organization's needs, and all attendants will receive our Health Literacy Instructional Manual which includes lesson planning guides, and sample health-related lessons and activities.

 

Health literacy workshops for healthcare providers are also available in both Central Texas and state-wide.  These workshops focus on understanding health literacy and its importance, and strategies to improve patient-provider communication for both direct service providers and administrative staff.

 

For more information on health literacy or to schedule a health literacy training, please contact

  
Peter Morrison 
Health Literacy Specialist
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512-320-4505
 
 
Click here to be directed to the Downloads section to print the 2010 Central Texas Healthcare Referral Directory - a guide to public benefits in Central Texas, hospitals and clinics that accept those benefits, and where undocumented and uninsured persons can receive healthcare.

 

Thank you to our friends at
St Davids