Health Literacy Brigade Nikki Alvarez Lacey Burchett Stacey

+ Health Literacy Brigade Nikki Alvarez, Lacey Burchett, Stacey Dahm, Bridget Fitzpatrick, Sarah Forgue, Jenna Rebhun, Savannah Sisk

+ Please unscramble and read out loud: Helaht Lietrcay si ohw wlel a eprosn acn teg, krow htiw, adn udnnrsated haeltachre ifnomrotian ni oedrr to mkae gdoo haetlh dceisnois erevy dya. Our gaol as Onctpiuaocal Tiertphsas si ot hlep ppleoe ot btetre utdnrsnaed haahtlcere infoamrtoin os tehy cna tmpiac rieht onw hlteah.

+ Unscrambled! (Elevator Speech) n. Health literacy is how well a person can get, work with, and understand healthcare information to make good health decisions everyday. n. Our goal as Occupational Therapists is to help people better understand healthcare information so they can impact their own health.

+ Why is health literacy important? n. Poor health literacy costs the healthcare system $106 billion to $238 billion annually. n. People with low health literacy… n��use of healthcare services n�hospitalization rate n�rate of going to the ER

+ Why Detroit? n 47% of Detroit residents are functionally illiterate. n. High rates of… n. Poverty n. Low education level n. Racial minorities

+ Environment n Low SES n 36. 2% live in poverty n 16. 3% unemployed n High Crime Rates n Health Environment n Up to 42. 1% of people are obese n Up to 56. 4% of people are physically active

+ Why Heart Disease? n. Most common cause of death in Michigan and the U. S. in 2005 n 29% of Michiganders have high blood pressure n 40% of Michiganders have high cholesterol

+ Strengths/Assets n Strengths n Belle Isle n Eastern Market n Recreation Centers n Detroit Community Health Connection n Other non-profit organizations n Several major health systems n Public Library-Detroit Reads n Wayne State University

+ Health Literacy Brigade n“Healthy Heart” Drop-In Workshops n. Detroit, Michigan (West Detroit) n. Adults with Heart Disease

+ Aims n. To improve health literacy with heart disease in West Detroit n. To reduce healthcare costs due to overuse of services by people with low health literacy n. To improve quality of life in people with heart disease in West Detroit

+ Partnerships n Recruit workshop participants and volunteers: DMC Heart Hospital, UM Health System, Henry Ford, Detroit Community Health Connection n Serve as location: City of Detroit Northwest Activities Center n Funding: Wayne State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield n Supplies: Wayne State University, local stores

+ Partnerships, continued n Help with literacy content: Detroit Public Library Detroit Reads, Pro-Literacy Detroit n Help with heart disease content: Village Health Worker Partnership, Healthy Environments Partnership, Wellness Advocates of Detroit n Other resources: Wayne State University, Washtenaw County Health Disparities/Health Equity Capacity Building Project

+ Workshop Logistics WHAT? Facilitated Groups n Education n Activity n Discussion n Question and Answer WHERE? NW Activities Center n Classroom n Gym WHEN? Bi-weekly n Session topics repeated HOW? n Drop-in n Attend unlimited number n Peer-led n No cost n Website

+ Workshop Content n EVERY WORKSHOP n Basic health literacy information on heart disease n What is heart disease n How does it impact health n Common medical words related to heart disease n TOPICS n Medication Management n Disease Monitoring n Communication with Health Professionals n Exercise/Physical Leisure n Stress Management n Healthy Cooking/Eating

+ Workshop Methods n. Plain language n 5 th-grade reading level or below n. Teach-back n. Active method participation and discussion n. Peer-led

+ Sustainability n. Funding Sources n. Wayne State University n. Education goals n. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan n. Cost-reduction goals

+ Barriers n Lack of Funding n One-time workshop n Lack of Participation n Door-to-door recruitment n Speaking at churches, town hall meetings n Lack of Investor Commitment n Early buy-in n Pilot program

+ Summary n Manage symptoms n Better use of healthcare services n Talk to doctors and therapists with confidence n �Health Literacy = ��Hospitalizations + ��ER + ��Obesity + ��Hea Attacks = �Quality of Life + �Healthcare Costs

+ How can you get involved? n Become a funding partner n Provide publicity and workshop materials n Spread the word n Recruit volunteers n Refer adults with heart disease n Collaborate on workshop facilitation