Rhode Island Health Literacy Project RIHLP

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Rhode Island Health Literacy Project (RIHLP)

• Lori A. Quaranta, MPH
• National Institute for Literacy
• Health Literacy Summit
• March 26, 2008

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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.
• (73 billion - 238 billion)
• 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
report
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The Rhode Island Health Literacy Project (RIHLP)

• Acknowledged the need to do something about
  health literacy in RI
• Met with several medical, public health and
  educational agencies in RI
• Established the RIHLP Steering Committee

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The Rhode Island Health Literacy Project (RIHLP)

• A statewide coalition of public health, adult
  education, and medical organizations

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The Rhode Island Health Literacy Project (RIHLP)

• Mission
• Goals
• Objectives
• Project Selection Criteria
• Project/Initiatives List
• Minimum Monthly Meetings

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RIHLP Projects/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
• Outreach/RIHLP Web Site
• Health Literacy Month in October
• Guidelines for Written Materials
• Grants and Funding

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Outreach/RIHLP Web Site (www.RIHLP.org)

• Web Site - 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
• Local TV and articles in local publication
• Presentations and meetings

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Grants and Funding

• Created sub-committee to find funding
  opportunities
• Tapped into Steering Committee resources
• Pharmaceutical Funding
• Grants
• Local Business Support

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Contact Information

• Lori Quaranta
• Rhode Island Health Literacy Project
• Telephone [phone]
• E-mail Lori.Quaranta_at_BCBSRI.org