Health Literacy
Health Literacy Missouri
HLM is a non-profit corporation based in St. Louisand serving the entire state of Missouri. HLM's mission is to improve thehealth of all Missourians while becoming a national leader in healthliteracy.
National Organizations
MEDLINEplus-Health Information
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthliteracy.html
Description: MEDLINEplus, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, includes a vast amount of health information on over 750 topics related to diseases, conditions, and wellness. The site offers authoritative,up-to-date and appropriate health information for both health professionals and consumers
Information Available: Health Literacy overviews, publications, latest news, tool kits, dictionaries, and statistics from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, National Patient Safety Foundation, and other organizations.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)- Clear CommunicationInitiative
http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/index.htm
Description: The NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) coordinates the Clear Communication initiative, which focuses on two health literacy objectives: 1) Providing information in the form and with the content that is accessible to specific audiences based on cultural competence, and 2) Incorporating plain language approaches and new technologies.
Information Available: Information on Health Literacy, including an overview, frequently asked questions, and links to research and publications.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm
Description : The office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion provides a webpage on health literacy improvement resources.
Information Available: Tools for improving health literacy, links to Government resources, reports and research.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
http://www.hrsa.gov/healthliteracy/
Description: HRSA is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.
Information Available: Explanation of Health Literacy, links to publications, free online training for providers, Frequently Asked Questions.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM)
http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3775/3827.aspx
Description: The IOM provides unbiased, evidence-based information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.
Information Available: IOM health literacy resources and activities.
The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN)
www.plainlanguage.gov
Description: The Plain Language Action and InformationNetwork (PLAIN) is a group of federal employees from many different agencies and specialties that created and maintain this website to promote the use of plain language in all government communications.
Information Available: History of the Plain Language movement, examples, tools, materials for trainers, and links to books and articles.
Health Literacy Studies, Harvard School of Public Health
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/index.html
Description: A website of health literacy resources provided by the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Information Available: Health Literacy overview, literature, research and policy reports, glossary, how to create and assess print materials, and health literacy curricula.
National Institute for Literacy
www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy
Description: The Institute, established by the National Literacy Act and reauthorized in 1998 by the Workforce Investment Act, seeks to develop literacy as a national asset,using knowledge, research, and practice.
Information Available: Access to the Health Literacy discussion list.
Health Literacy Consulting
http://www.healthliteracy.com/
Description: Health Literacy Consulting helps individuals and organizations communicate health information in ways patients, families,and employees can understand, through a ranges of services, products and resources.
Information Available: articles, how-to’s, writing and editing services, health literacy store.
Missouri Resources
Health Literacy Missouri
http://www.mffh.org/HLannualreport08.pdf
Description: Health Literacy Missouri is an MFH funded initiative intended to become a comprehensive health literacy resource centerfor the state of Missouri.
Information available: Background information on the initiative and on the topic of health literacy.
Reports and Publications
Health Policy Brief:
The High Economic Cost of Low Health Literacy in Missouri
John A. Vernon, PhD, PhD
Department of Finance, University of Connecticut and National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
View report
Estimating and Mapping Health Literacy in the State of Missouri
http://www.rand.org/pubs/working_papers/WR735/
Proceedings of the Surgeon General's Workshop on Improving Health Literacy, September 7, 2006, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
http://surgeongeneral.gov/topics/healthliteracy/toc.html
MFH provides the Health Resource Directory as a resource for the community. The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by MFH of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein.