Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100037

Kathy Simpson, MA¹, Shelley Martin, MPH, CHES², and Beccah Rothschild, MPA¹. (1) Center for Community Wellness, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2140 Shattuck Ave., 10th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-642-9791, kathys@berkeley.edu, (2) School of Public Health Center for Community Wellness, University of California, Berkeley, 2140 Shattuck Avenue, 10th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704-1210

About 90 million English-speaking adults in the U.S. are at risk for poor health because they cannot read the health information that they receive. In response to this problem, the School of Public Health at UC-Berkeley and the California state Office of the Patient Advocate partnered to form the California Health Communication Project (CHCP).

Currently in its third year, CHCP offers free services to HMOs, consumer groups and government agencies to make HMO health information materials easier for members to understand and use. CHCP is also collaborating with the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and the California MediCal Managed Care division of the Department of Health Services (DHS) to impact health literacy policy in California.

CHCP's services include:

1. Feedback and recommendations to make written materials easier to read and use, 2. On-site staff trainings to teach clear writing skills and the issues of health literacy, and, 3. Tip sheets and resources to help HMOs, consumer advocacy, and government agencies improve their written materials.

This presentation will focus on the methods CHCP uses to increase the readability and usability of HMO materials for California members and how other states can replicate the project.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the goals of the California Health Communication Project
• Recognize and understand the issues of limited health literacy and how it can affect HMO members’ ability to understand and access critical health information
• Create a project similar to CHCP in other states.

Keywords: Health Literacy, HMOs

Related Web page: www.ucwellness.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation