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