To improve health literacy, follow QI model
Goal is to create a culture change
The way the Group Health Plain Language Network approaches work is based on quality improvement models, according to Kimberly Wicklund, MPH, manager of health information & promotion at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.
That's because the network is trying to create culture change within the organization, which is similar to how a lot of improvement work is done in health care, she explains.
Therefore, the members of the network determined to get senior leader buy-in for its health literacy efforts, identify champions throughout the organization, train staff and raise awareness, create tools for people to use in order to implement the network's recommendations, and do some reporting and evaluation.
That's the framework used to approach the work, explains Wicklund.
To get senior leader buy-in, the network wrote a charter for an official initiative. Champions for health literacy weren't hard to come by, for the diverse makeup of the network meant there was at least one in most departments. They not only reinforce the message but also serve as gatekeepers for the information coming out of the department, says Wicklund.
The continuing medical education department approved a web-based training program, and the network developed a PowerPoint presentation about plain language and how to use it in order to address staff training and awareness. They also developed a toolkit for the Intranet with information on how to communicate in plain language. Articles about plain language are frequently placed in the staff newsletters published by the various departments.
Wicklund said a lack of resources has made reporting and evaluation more difficult to complete. Therefore, the network seeks opportunities for evaluation where the results can be easily tracked. For example, the health promotion department wrote a letter to group health members in plain language and did not receive any calls from members confused about the content. Before writing letters in plain language, the department usually received about 20 calls about content.
The way the Group Health Plain Language Network approaches work is based on quality improvement models, according to Kimberly Wicklund, MPH, manager of health information & promotion at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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