MDNews - San Antonio

++++++++++++++++++++++ + + ++++++++++++++++++++++ AROUND TOWN +++ +++ Conference Focuses on 'Health Literacy in the Electronic Age' From iPhone apps and social media to patient navigators, efforts to improve health literacy are taking many new and innovative forms. The eighth annual conference of the San Antonio Health Literacy Initiative (SAHLI) will focus on increasing the health literacy skills of health care professionals in South Texas. "Health Literacy in the Electronic Age: High Tech/High Touch" is scheduled for Friday, October 5, at the Hilton San Antonio Airport hotel. Health literacy is the degree to which indi- viduals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand the basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. According to Healthy People 2020, a national strategic planning initia- tive of the U.S. government, nine out of 10 Americans struggle with health literacy. "Our conference is the premier confer- ence on health literacy in Texas," says SAHLI chair Jennifer Cook, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor at the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of the Incarnate Word. "We bring together top experts in the field to share strategies and tools based on clinical experience, academic research and the patient perspective." Keynote speaker Terry C. Davis, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of health literacy, is a professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA. For the past 20 years, Dr. Davis has led an interdisciplinary team investigating the impact of patient literacy on health and health care. Active in health literacy at the national level, she has been published extensively on the topic, 18 | San Antonio MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM along with health communication and preventive medicine. Conference speakers include Peter Morrison, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Austin, on "Health Literacy Basics"; Kath Anderson, Sage Words, Austin, on "Foto Novelas"; Luke Rosenberger, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, on "Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Health Literacy"; and Dr. Oralia Bazaldua, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and Adam Ratner, M.D., The Patient Institute, San Antonio, on "Medication Management." Ana Telles of Communicate Health in Northampton, MA, will lead a webcast on "Health Literacy Online, Improving Health Literacy on the National Level." Tim Porter, Appddiction Studio, San Antonio, will conduct a hands-on workshop on the development of phone apps. Several ex- hibitors will demonstrate interactive dis- plays that address health literacy issues. The conference is open to health care professionals, educators, health plan ad- ministrators, community service providers and others interested in health literacy. Continuing education hours will be offered for social workers and certified health education specialists. Registration is $99 per person or $129 after September 7. For more informa- tion, visit www.healthcollaborative.net or call (210) 481-2573. SAHLI is a program of The Health Collaborative (THC), a convening organiza- tion bringing together the area's health care systems, community organizations and businesses to implement a more synergis- tic approach to solving the region's critical community health needs. The mission of the organization is to improve the health status of the community through collaborative means. THC partners include Baptist Health System, the Bexar County Department of Community Resources, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System, Community First Health Plans, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Methodist Healthcare System, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, University Health System, WellMed Medical Management, Inc. and the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. ■ ADVERTISERS' INDEX AMA/ HP ................................................................13 AMA/ Wells Fargo .............................................. 11 AmegyBank of Texas.. ..................................Inside Back Cover The Broadway San Antonio .....................................Back Cover Bjorn's ....................................Inside Front Cover Paesanos ................................................................17 South Texas Medical Center/Travis Commercial Real Eastate Services .....................................5 Strasburger Price Oppenheimer Blend ........................................5 Stoneterra Medical Plaza/Travis Commercial Real Eastate Services .....................................15 Texas Health Steps ..............................................9 UT Health Science Center ................................15

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