The American Medical Association has been on board with health literacy
for several years and is a leader in promoting innovative tools to help
clinicians better understand the issues surrounding health literacy and
what they can do. They have a health literacy tool kit which includes a
manual and video with patient interviews that are very powerful tools
for helping get the message across. We have used the video in
presentations to various departments and nursing units in our hospital
system.

We need to keep in mind that while the AMA is very active in supporting
measures to enhance health literacy not every physician is a member and
not every physician, even those who are members, buys into the message.
Professional organizations can make recommendations and influence
behavior, however they cannot control behavior. It is not until the
individual clinician finds value in changing that they will change.
Having said that, efforts are being made by many health care
professional organizations to help clinicians better understand the
issues related to low health literacy. It's unfortunate that so many are
still not listening. On the other hand it presents a world of
opportunity.

Thanks,
Bob Dickerson, MSHSA, RRT
Quality Improvement Coordinator, Clinical Quality
Iowa Health - Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 263-5792
Fax: (515) 263-5415
E-mail: DICKERR2 at ihs.org
Website: www.ihsdesmoines.org
   

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Julie McKinney
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 9:16 AM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 709] AMA-endorsed trainings in clear health
communication

Hi Everyone,

I am passing on this recommendation from the American Medical
Association for the Health Literacy Institutes: Summer and Fall
trainings in clear health communication. There was so much interest in
our recent discussion about using pictures for health education
materials, that I know many of you are interested in this. I also think
it is encouraging to see a training of this sort recommended by the
American Medical Association. It shows that they are on board with at
least this aspect of health literacy!

All the best,
Julie

********************************
The 2007 Summer Institute will be held June 10-13.  The 2007 Fall
Institute
(repeat) will be held October 28-31.  Both Institutes are hosted in
Freeport, Maine.

Each Institute is limited to 30 participants, so register early to hold
your place.  Details and registration information are at
www.HealthLiteracyInstitute.net

* * * * * * *
Sent by: 
American Medical Association * Helping doctors help patients
515 N. State Street
Chicago, Illinois, 60610
(312)464-5000

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

Julie McKinney
Discussion List Moderator
World Education/NCSALL
jmckinney at worlded.org

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