Hi all: I think the development of those brochures represent a great
effort by the Joint Commission to provide to address the issue of
patient safety from the patient side. (Their core business seems to be
accreditation and certification within the health sector)  When I read
some of the actions they are recommending patients to take, I wonder how
many doctors would want their patients to ask such deep and challenging
questions! Many of the statements and questions that they are
recommending patients say or ask are terrific! I'm sure a lot of doctors
would not feel comfortable with such a patient!


>From the point of view of the design, layout and language aspects of

brochures, there is work that needs to be done to make them more
patient- friendly. It is interesting that the brochure that speaks about
"Speaking Up" uses the letters that make up the phrase "speaking up" to
start each section. But unless one looks very carefully, one would not
recognize the pattern. 
I also agree with others about the brochures being too text dense. The
covers are attractive. But the layout of the inside text does not invite
readers who are faced with literacy challenges.


>From the info on the site the project began in 2002. There have been a

lot of advances in the health literacy field around plain language and
how to design printed materials that reflect an understanding of the
needs of patients with limited literacy.

What this issue illustrates also is the need for the literacy community
to be engaged and be seen as a partner with the health sector. We can
bring valuable insights to the table that emerge from our ongoing
literacy work students/patients.

Winston Lawrence Ed. D
Literacy Assistance Center
New York

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Julie McKinney
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 5:55 PM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1909] The Joint Commission's Health
LiteracyCampaign

Hi Everyone,

Check out these new materials from the Joint Commission. Let the list
know what you think of them and the campaign in general!

Have a good weekend,
Julie

*******************
The Joint Commission is launching a national campaign to help Americans
prevent health care errors by promoting health literacy.  Understanding
Your Caregivers provides patients questions and answers that will help
them better understand the care they receive.  Among the topics are: 

- What can you do if you don't understand what your caregiver is saying?
- What can you do if they explain and you still don't understand?
- How do you understand all the instructions related to medicines, or
even remember all of the medicines?

The campaign is part of their national patient safety Speak Up program
which offers downloadable, easy-to-read brochures on issues such as
preventing medication mistakes, avoiding wrong site surgery, and
recovering after leaving the hospital.

To download Understanding Your Caregivers brochures, visit
http://www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/sp_understanding.ht
m

To download Speak Up brochures, visit
http://www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/

* * * * * * * * * * * * *


Julie McKinney
Health Literacy List Moderator
World Education
jmckinney at worlded.org
----------------------------------------------------
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