National Prevention Summit:
Prevention, Preparedness, and Promotion
October 27, 2006

(image: Partnership for Clear Health Communication logo)

More than 89 Million Consumers are Impacted by Low Health Literacy – the Ability to Read, Understand, and Act on Health Information

Adult Literacy in the US – Patients "at Risk" for Not Understanding

• 93 million adults can only perform basic literacy skills¹
• 11 million adults are non-literate in English¹
• 7.8 million seniors can only perform the most simple and concrete literacy skills¹ (Below Basic)

(image: photos of seniors)

• Adults with low health literacy:
  • Are often less likely to comply with prescribed treatment and self-care regimens¹
  • Make more medication or treatment errors¹
  • Fail to seek preventive care¹
  • Are at a higher risk for hospitalization than people with adequate literacy skills²
  • Remain in hospital nearly 2 days longer³
  • Lack the skills needed to negotiate the health care system¹
• People with low health literacy AND diabetes:
  • Were found to be less likely to have effective glycemic control⁴
  • Were more likely to report vision problems caused by their diabetes⁴

Adults with low literacy:

• Averaged 6% more hospital visits¹*
• Stayed in the hospital nearly 2 days longer than .adults with higher literacy skills1*
• Had fewer doctor visits, but used significantly more hospital resources²
• Had annual health care costs 4 times higher than .those with higher health literacy³

The Partnership for Clear Health Communication (PCHC) is a national, non-profit coalition of over 400 organizations working to build awareness and advance solutions to improve health literacy and positively impact health outcomes.

(image: drawing of two people holding giant puzzle pieces over their heads)

• Purpose – Advance the Health Literacy issue, gain critical mass, leverage credibility and drive through the grass roots
• Who – Nationally recognized organizations with local membership experienced in building and leading coalitions, representing a broad range of constituencies
• What – Develop and execute a prioritized and coordinated Action Agenda

Increase awareness of the importance of clear health communication

Provide training, targeted education, coaching and materials to people who have the most patient interface

Advocate for clear health communication and increased health literacy resources

PCHC has expanded to include over 400 members

• American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• American Cancer Society
• American Diabetes Association
• American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging
• National Council of La Raza
• National Health Council
• American College of Nurse Practitioners
• American Public Health Association
• National Council on the Aging
• National Association of Community Health Centers
• Pfizer
• March of Dimes
• American Pharmacist Association
• Aetna Health

The Medical Model

• Focuses on the disease, symptoms, treatment
• Appropriate for physicians
• Not appropriate for most consumers

A Patient-Centered Model

• Focuses on the patient's perspective
• Covers what patients want and need to know
• Acknowledges their readiness to learn

(image: photos of doctor and group of healthy people)

• Addresses the highest priority Action Agenda items
  • Awareness, targeted education and materials
• Creates a compelling solution and Call to Action for patients and providers
• Is designed to promote clear communication between patients and providers to improve health outcomes
• Was developed with health literacy experts, then tested and validated

(image: Ask Me 3 logo)

Promotes three simple, but essential, questions .and answers for every healthcare interaction:

• What is My Main Problem? > diagnosis
• What Do I Need to Do? > Treatment
• Why Is It Important For Me to do This? > Context

(image: diagram titled "What Is Ask Me 3?")

Patient: De-stigmatize and Reduce Embarrassment of Low Health Literacy
Provider: Recognize Patient Coping Mechanisms

• Provides a consistent approach to patient-provider dialogue
• Allows patients to get information they need to manage their health
• Time-efficient for providers to reinforce healthcare instructions

(image: diagram titled "Ask Me 3 – Creates Shared Responsibility for Clear Health Communication")

(image: covers of several Ask Me 3 publications which include posters, organizational brochure, provider brochure, patient brochure, and Website)

Sample of Organizations Who Have Received Materials

Practitioners
Lynchburg Family Practice
Winnoski Family Health
Lechtworth Family Medicine
HCH Family Practice
Ronald A. Cole, MD
Robert T. Hartman, MD

Hospitals & Community Health
E. Boston Health Center
All Saints HealthCare
Jackson Health System
Boston Medical Center
Prince George's County Health Department

Advocacy/VHA Groups
American Diabetes Association
American Cancer Society
Catholic Charities
The Senior Alliance
American Geriatrics Society

Academia
New Mexico State University
Arizona Department of Education
Ohio State University
Texas Tech
Duke
UW Medical School

Pharmacy
Medicine Shoppe
Student National Pharmaceutical Association
MCPHS School of Pharmacy
Bause's Super Drug Store
Kmart Pharmacy
Anchor Pharmacy

MATERIALS DISSEMINATED SINCE 2003:
Over 1 Million

To find out more about PCHC, our programs, resources and members, please visit

(image: photo of several Medicare publications)