-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Kerns, Sandra J.
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 11:34 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: Re: [HealthLiteracy] Welcome to New Subscribers,and a Question
for All

It is great to have dedicated folks like you out there.  I am new to the
list and have quietly listend the last couple months and have learned
much about what is being done for health literacy.  Keep up the good
work.  Sandy in Anchorage

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Janet Sorensen
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 10:19 AM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: Re: [HealthLiteracy] Welcome to New Subscribers,and a Question
for All


Hello, list! I'm senior writer for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical
Care. We are Arkansas' Medicare quality improvement organization (QIO)
and have similar contracts with Arkansas Medicaid. As part of the
communications department, I write and edit journal articles, magazine
articles, brochures, newsletters, print ads, radio PSAs and other
materials for several audiences, including Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries, physicians, health care administrators and the general
public. Obviously, I have to shift gears a lot.
This list helps me keep up with developments in health literacy and
health care communications. It also helps me feel a little less alone,
and inspires me to keep trying when I run into resistance from other
staff members or management.
One thing I try to keep in mind and communicate to our clinical staff
members and upper administrators is that we ALL need clear,
well-planned, well-written and effectively designed health care
materials. I'm not just "dumbing things down" for the "lowest common
denominator," as one co-worker so sensitively put it. Who would
voluntarily read something that sounds like a college textbook? Even
college students have to be forced! And why should a Medicaid recipient
have to make 10 phone calls to answer a simple coverage question?
It's helpful to know that so many others on this list are facing similar
challenges, and that there is a movement to find novel and effective
ways to communicate complex concepts.

Janet Sorensen
Senior Writer
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
Little Rock, AR


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