Thanks for attending FC 2017!

2017 Fall Operations Conference

Thank you for attending this years fall conference! With 350 attendees, speakers, exhibitors and staff, this was one of the largest fall conferences ever. If you have not yet checked into the app for CME's and CPE's, you have until Friday afternoon to do so! Please send us a message on the app if you need assistance or email events@ohiochc.org and we will help you get checked into the app.

OACHC would ike to thank our Corporate Partners and Conference Sponsors for making this event possible!

For pictures from some of the sessions, reception and fun moments of the conference, visit our Facebook page here!

Our annual conference will be March 5th through 7th at the Polaris Hilton! We hope to see you there!

Health Literacy Month

Where does health literacy live in your community health center?

Finding out where health literacy lives in your community health center is like asking someone why the sky is blue.  Questions like this can be confusing and unclear. That same confusion can be applied to the concept of health literacy. It is time to uncover the truth about health literacy as we celebrate its journey during the month of October for Health Literacy Month. Together we can find its rightful place in your four walls and beyond.

Healthy People 2020 defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” Regardless of age, race, socio-economic status, or education level ALL people will experience confusion regarding health care at some point in their life; whether it be as a parent trying to decipher their child’s new medical diagnosis, a person who is newly covered by insurance for the first time, or as an older adult who has pill box to help to manage their daily medication.  

Here are some significant impacts on the healthcare system regarding health literacy:

• It is estimated that nearly half of American adults, 90 million people, have only basic or below-basic health literacy skills and have difficulty understanding and acting on health information.
• Persons with limited health literacy skills have higher utilization of treatment services including hospitalization and emergency services and lower utilization of preventive services. 
• They incur medical expenses that are up to four times greater than patients with adequate health literacy skills. 
• The estimated added annual cost to the health care system due to low health literacy is $106-$238 billion.

Are you still thinking about how to determine where health lives in your community health center?  Maybe even thinking about which individual should take on yet another hat?  You will need to buy a lot of hats because EVERYONE in your organization can make an impact a patient’s ability to obtain and retain health information. In honor of Health Literacy Month, take on a new challenge by having each department share a strategy for how they can make an impact regarding health literacy.  Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Hold a cooking on class for health eating for diabetic patients
• Rework patient education materials using plain language techniques
• Conduct an environment review (or walkthrough) to identify literacy-related barriers
• Assess the pharmacy’s communication style with patients
• Try to complete the paperwork expected of a new patient (one that has never sought care before)
As safety-net providers health centers play a significant role in helping to bridge the communication gap for vulnerable patients. Download The Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Health Literacy’s Ten Attributes of Health Literate Health Care Organizations to start incorporating health literacy concepts today! 
Learn about health literacy in Ohio with Ohio Health Literacy Partners. Join the conversation at OHLP’s newly launched Facebook page.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer is a group of diseases that both men and women can succumb to. It affects the breast tissue and although it is more commonly diagnosed in women, more than 2,400 men will be diagnosed with this disease this year. Breast Cancer is the leading cause of death for women and over 250,000 cases will be diagnosed in women this year! Although cancer cannot always be prevented, leading a healthy lifestyle, performing self checks and getting mammograms when necessary can help with early detection. According to the CDC, The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that average-risk women who are 50 to 74 years old should have a screening mammogram every two years. Average-risk women, who are 40 to 49 years old, should talk to their doctor about when to start and how often to get a screening mammogram. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! For more information on Breast Cancer and to learn how you can spread awareness:

• Learn how to perform a self exam here: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam
• For information on how to spread awareness all October: https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/OctoberToolkit.aspx
• Information about risk factors can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/pdf/BreastCancerFactSheet.pdf
• Midway Dental Supply is offering products that donate proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation: http://midwaydental.com/Customer/midesu/images/promo_vendors/promos/Q4_2017/mds_flipbook/#p=1
• To participate in a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, click here to find one near you!