Wisconsin Health Literacy Digest
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In this issue:
- Free dementia toolkit for caregivers and professionals
- Looking for pharmacies interested in making prescription labels easier to understand
- "What to Do When You're Having a Baby" project has positive impact
- Opioid medicine workshops available throughout Wisconsin
- Let's Talk About Medicine - additional workshops have started
- Coming Soon: Workshops on how to find trustworthy on-line health information
- Congratulations to MetaStar - Outstanding Achievement in Health Literacy
- Health Literacy training opportunity
- Past Summit videos online
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Save the Date!
2019 Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit:
April 1 - 3, 2019
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More information coming soon!
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A free toolkit is available to help caregivers and professionals who work with individuals with dementia
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A toolkit is now available to inform professionals and caregivers about health literacy principles and techniques they can use to improve communications and enhance care for those with early Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
This toolkit was the basis for 20 recent onsite workshops with selected high impact organizations and will be widely distributed in Wisconsin.
This project is supported by a grant from Bader Philanthropies.
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Limited number of hard copies are available. If you would like a free copy, please contact Kari LaScala, Project Manager: (608) 257-1655, ext. 5 or via email:
kari@wisconsinliteracy.org
Organizations may request multiple copies if planning for distribution.
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Know a pharmacy interested in making labels easier to understand?
WHL looking for pharmacy partners
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Prescription labels are the main source of information patients use regarding their medications, yet there are 7000 deaths a year because these labels are often misunderstood.
Using United States Pharmacopeia guidelines for patient-centered labels, Wisconsin Health Literacy is seeking to partner with pharmacies throughout Wisconsin that are interested in redesigning their prescription labels so they are easier for patients to read and understand.
This is Phase 3 of an initiative that began in 2014. Phase 1 sought to
understand key stakeholders’ attitudes and opinions regarding the new USP guidelines, factors that may increase the likelihood of adoption, barriers to adoption, and how they can be overcome. Phase 2 wrapped up in December 2017 with
5 pharmacy organizations (63 pharmacies total) that redesigned and implemented new labels making them easier to read and understand. The project is funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment of the Medical College of Wisconsin. For more information, please visit our website:
http://wisconsinliteracy.org/health-literacy/what-we-do/projects.html
If you are interested in being a part of this project, or would like additional information, contact Kari LaScala at
kari@wisconsinliteracy.org
, or
(608) 257-1655, ext. 5.
Spreading the word!
Read more about the prescription label project in the following publication:
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Pregnant women gain confidence from "What to do" book
Results show positive behavior change
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With almost 5,000
What to Do When You're Having a Baby
books distributed throughout Wisconsin and supported by a grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Wisconsin Health Literacy was able to help expecting women understand prenatal health information and make positive behavior changes after reading the book.
Project Results
Expectant Women:
- 99% indicated that the book helped them feel more confident in knowing what to do to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
- 38% indicated that they felt a lot more confident
- 91% indicated that they had made at least one behavior change after reading the book; a few examples:
- Have eaten healthier foods: 66%
- Asked more questions at doctor appointments: 51%
- Have gotten at least 30 minutes of exercise a day (or tried to): 37%
- Got help if feeling sad or depressed: 20%
Partner Staff:
- 100% indicated that the book either "very much" helped their patients/clients increase their knowledge (31%) or "was at least somewhat helpful." (69%)
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Opioid medicine workshops available throughout Wisconsin
Sign up today for the
Let's Talk About Pain Medicines
workshop
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The opioid crisis continues and significantly affects Wisconsin. Our state had the largest increase (109%) in ER visits for opioid overdoses from July 2016 to September 2017. (
wpr.org
)
Would your organization like to partner with Wisconsin Health Literacy to help residents in your community safely and effectively use opioids? WHL is offering free workshops for community groups called
Let’s Talk About Pain Medicines
. These are made possible through three different funders (see below). The feedback has been very positive, and participants say they find the program information very helpful.
Let’s Talk About Pain Medicines
programs:
A limited number of workshops remain available:
- Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation funded project. WHL is working with doctors from the Wisconsin Medical Society to present 14 workshops to help individuals more safely and effectively use their pain medicine.
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services Minority Health Program funded project. WHL has been partnering with organizations across the state that serve minorities, refugees and immigrants to implement 25 workshops to help their clients more safely and effectively use their pain medicine. Only 2 workshops left!
- Security Health Plan funded project. WHL is partnering with organizations in SHP's service area to present 25 workshops.
If you are interested in hosting a workshop at your organization, please contact Caitlyn Mowatt, Health Communications Specialist at
caitlyn@wisconsinliteracy.org
, or (608) 257-1655, ext. 6.
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Wisconsin sees an alarming 109% increase in ER visits due to opioid overdoses....
www.wpr.org
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Let's Talk About Medicines
Additional workshops have started
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Wisconsin Health Literacy (WHL) is partnering with Security Health Plan (SHP) to continue implementing the
Let’s Talk About Medicines
workshops for seniors and other adults in SHP’s service area. These 1-hour popular workshops are designed to help participants more safely and effectively use their medicines.
Workshop topics include:
- Understanding main parts of a medication label
- Types of containers and labels for solid and liquid medications
- Dosage instruction and strategies to remember to take the medicine
- Reading and interpreting special instructions on a label
- Basic storage techniques
*Workshop sites are based on geographic location and date availability.
Interested in hosting a workshop?
Please contact:
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Coming Soon: Workshops on how to find trustworthy on-line health information
Health Online: Finding Information You Can Trust
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Wisconsin Health Literacy staff are excited to begin new project efforts in digital health literacy. WHL was recently awarded the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) Greater Midwest Region (GMR) Health Info Outreach Grant.
The project will help persons from underrepresented populations better access, identify and use reliable health information on the internet. WHL will partner with local organizations to host 32 “digital health literacy” workshops for consumers most at risk for low health literacy, including seniors and individuals with low literacy. In addition, WHL will provide four regional workshops for librarians, especially in rural areas, on how to effectively help persons with low health literacy find trustworthy health information.
If this program sounds of interest to you, please contact Caitlyn Mowatt, Health Communications Specialist
at
caitlyn@wisconsinliteracy.org
, or (608) 257-1655, ext. 6.
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Congratulations, MetaStar!
2018 Outstanding Achievement in Health Literacy
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True to tradition, MetaStar President/CEO Greg Simmons accepted the award with a nod to the importance of health literacy, emphasizing, "Health literacy is fundamental to improving health care." Joining Greg were Metastar staff Julie Schmelzer and Emily Nelson.
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Congratulations to MetaStar, which was recognized for achievement in health literacy at Wisconsin Literacy's 2018 Celebration of Literacy event April 25.
The Celebration of Literacy honored outstanding adult learners, tutors, and literacy advocates across the state for their courage and efforts to improve literacy.
MetaStar was recognized for leadership in reaching providers and patients alike with the important message on how improved health literacy can result in improved health outcomes and a better quality of life.
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Health Literacy training available for you and your team
Do you want to provide health literacy training for your staff but not sure where to start? Or not enough time? Contact us for a proposal. We customize training programs for your organization which can be offered once or multiple times.
Read more
wisconsinliteracy.org
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Haven't had time to watch the latest Wisconsin Health Literacy Summit presentation videos? Good news, they're still online for you to view!
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Wisconsin Health Literacy | 608-257-1655 | www.wisconsinhealthliteracy.org
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