A Second Symposium for Policy Makers in Mid-Atlantic States

For Immediate Release

PHILADELPHIA/EWORLDWIRE/April 12, 2005 --- Plain Language and Culture, Inc. (PLC) - with JO Frempong & Associates, Furnas Consulting and the Health Promotion Council, Inc. - will host a one-day symposium, "System Change for Better Communication-Literacy, Language and Culture: Missing Links in Our Goal to Reduce Health Disparities" Friday, April 15, 2005, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Sheraton University City Hotel. The immediate aims will be to raise awareness of cross cultural health literacy, by describing best practices that have focused on resolving health communication issues, generating discussion and an agenda that will lead to institutional change. This one-day conference will target health and human services providers, administrators and staff, policy makers and insurances.

The Institute of Medicine's 2004 report on "Health Literacy - A Prescription to end Confusion" confirms that nearly half of all American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. The IOM Report accepts the Healthy People 2010 definition of health literacy - the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy affects nearly one in two Americans and may cost the health care system more than $58 billion annually.

Literacy levels are lowest among the elderly, those who have lower educational levels, those who are poor, minority populations and groups with limited English proficiency. There is considerable overlap between limited literacy populations and those described in The Institute of Medicine's 2004 report on "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health." It is impossible to deal with culture and language without taking literacy into consideration when reducing health disparities.

According to John F. Domzalski, health commissioner for the city of Philadelphia, "Health care administrators and practitioners cannot be successful unless they communicate effectively. We are increasingly challenged by the linguistic and cultural diversity of our city, and need to develop new communication skills to assist us in reducing disparities in health care in many neighborhoods and communities." He added, "Programs and strategies of this kind are essential to the work of today's health care professional."

"We are proud to be a sponsor of this symposium," said Daniel J. Hilferty, president and CEO of Keystone Mercy Health Plan. "It is important for health care organizations and professionals to work together to identify and address the different barriers to effective, quality health care."

"The System Change for Better Communication - Literacy, Language and Culture: Missing Links in Our Goal to Reduce Health Disparities," is made possible partially through support from local and national organizations, which are also partners in the planning of this event. More information is available at www.plculture.org or by writing to Percy@rosalesc.com or by calling Aracely Rosales at (215) 849-0545.

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CONTACT:
Percy Rosales
Rosales Communications
510 Carpenter Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19119
PHONE. (215) 849-0545
FAX. (215) 849-1601
E-MAIL: percy@rosalesc.com

SOURCE: Plain Language and Culture