Rima, 
Please let us know when this report is available online.  I am very
interested in reading this and in developing partnerships in my
community between our adult literacy program and a teaching hospital
just a block away from our office.  Any suggestions this report could
recommend on facilitating partnerships between health care providers and
adult educators will be appreciated.  Thanks. 

Rebecca Howard
Literacy Specialist
Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service
Tulsa City County Library 
918.596.7961
 

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Rima Rudd
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 5:26 PM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 494] Re: Wed. Question: Navigating Healthcare

Hello again,
I don't know how I missed the opportunity in my last email to post a
related announcement  but I post again in order to share information
about a forthcoming guide focused on access to and navigation of health
care facilities.

Jennie Anderson [now at JSI in Boston] and I authored a guidebook
related to the health literacy environment of hospitals and health care
institutions.  This guidebook supports an effort to identify literacy
related enhancements and barriers to access and navigation.

We envisioned two audiences. The first is the CEO of a hospital or
health center who is interested in considering health literacy. This
publication supports an internal review process and offers a mechanism
for considering change and developing relevant policy. As a note, the
Joint Commission on Accreditation will soon be publishing a white paper
on the issue of health literacy and patient safety. 

The second audience we envisioned is comprised of adult educators who
might be interested in bringing these resources to a health facility and
working as a partner to enhance access. We worked closely with Elyse
Rudolph, director of the Literacy Assistance Center of New York City.
She is a contributor to the guide and is actively engaged with various
hospitals in New York. We strongly believe that adult educators are in a
perfect position to offer a great deal of insight and to facilitate the
recommended workshops outlined and suggested within the guide that would
enhance literacy awareness and related skills among hospital staff. 

The book is currently at the printers. We will be sending out guides to
various organizations in the new year and will post the entire guide on
line at www.ncsall.net and www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy 

Title:  HEALTH LITERACY ENVIRONMENT OF HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS
Partners for Action: Making Your Healthcare Facility Literacy-Friendly
Authors: Rima E. Rudd & Jennie E. Anderson Table of Contents:
I. INTRODUCTION
II. HEALTH LITERACY ENVIRONMENT REVIEW
Navigation
Print Communication
Oral Exchange
Technology
Policies & Protocols
Summary
III. ACTION PLAN
Options for Reducing Literacy-Related Barriers IV. BACKGROUND &
RESOURCES Background Information on Health and Literacy Resources
APPENDICES Appendix I: Partners for Action Examples Appendix II: Needs
Assessment Tools

Rima

Rima E. Rudd, ScD, MSPH
Department of Society, Human Development & Health Harvard School of
Public Health
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115
Phone: 617 432 1135
fax:     617 432 3123
web:    www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy
www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether
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