Low Functional health literacy is a problem affecting 90 million residents of the United States. Among the 90 million, 36% are adults who have “below basic” health literacy skills. Assessing health literacy is important in improving health behaviors, health outcomes, and perceived communication barriers related to health. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in 2010 brought about changes that demand a more coordinated approach to manage health care services. This research focused on the efforts being made to promote health literacy at Medicaid health homes such as Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network (GBUAHN). This research consisted of observation of Patient Health Navigator interactions with patients in order to identify best practices of health literacy initiatives within GBUAHN. Results suggest best practices include promoting and establishing relationship to effectively enhance patients understanding of all their healthcare needs. This study suggests that GBUAHN should continue making use of recommendations related health literacy promotion while exploring areas of improvement as noted on scorecard. Patient Health Navigators are engaging patient in manner that will establish adherence within patients.

1. The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing markets in
the United States. There is an increased demand for access to
quality healthcare for citizens. A large portion of The United
States population is facing access issues, in addition to quality
and functional understanding of healthcare information
presented to them on a daily basis. The Healthy People 2020
objective to improve health communication and health
information technology focus on the specifics of this issue.
Literacy is the ability to understand information presented to
one on a regular basis. These abilities include an individual’s
capacity to read, write, and speak in English; process and
resolve problems of daily living; and to improve one’s self to
develop goals, knowledge, and potentials (Berkman ND,
DeWalt DA, Pignone MP, et al, 2004). In some situations health
literacy plays a role in one’s ability to read and understand
health-related information presented to them in order to make
decisions involving their health.
The healthcare system itself is on the verge of change and so is
the way in which information is distributed and presented to
consumers. Not only is there a demand for consumers to adjust
to the change but there is still a majority of the population that is
currently in a state of confusion on how to manage, understand,
and navigate their current services. The new infrastructures
being implemented such as the Health Home, are trying to
assure more coordinated care. These changes will bring about a
more supported care team to help individuals receive and utilize
services.
Methods
Conclusions
A Descriptive Study of
Health Literacy Practices at GBUAHN
A.Yves Gnohoue, MPA:HA (2015)
Faculty Committee: Dr. Walter Iwanenko and Dr. Kush Haq
References
The data collection method for this study was observational.
Patient health navigators were observed and documented on their
health literacy promotion practices using the Patient Provider
Interaction (PPI) form. This form was developed based on the
recommendations of Kreps and Sparks (2008), The Agency for
Healthcare Research (AHRQ), The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), and those of the Institute Of Medicine.
The PPI forms were used with each of the 10 patient health
navigators while they were interacting with their patients. This
investigator conducted direct observation during patient and PHN
meetings, while observing how PHN communicates and
interacted with patient and if they were utilizing the best practices
of health literacy as set forth by the literature and practices
established by the their organization (GBUAHN). These
observations were then documented on the PPI form.
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The results of this research indicate that Greater Buffalo
United Accountable Healthcare Network (GBUAHN) and its
employees are making use of best practices when it comes to
communicating with patients. Communication efforts are
design to engage each patient in a manner appropriate based on
recommendations from the literature. Results indicate that
Patient Health Navigators at GBUAHN are encouraging
patients to engage in discussing their health and healthcare
service needs.
Observational analysis of Patient Health Navigator interactions
conclude that, the approaches and mannerism of the Patient
Health Navigators toward patient seems to be affective. In
regards to recommendations for health literacy promotion,
results indicate that GBUAHN is making great strides in
making sure that the diverse population that they service are
being accommodated for.
Introduction
Results
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the difficulties presented
by consumers who struggle with making sense of health
information presented to them both at the physician level and at
the coordination team. This research aimed to help professionals
currently participating in the health home initiative such as
Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network
(GBUAHN). This study identifies whether the information
being presented to consumers are within the recommended
guidelines of promoting health literacy from an organizations
perspective.
Research Questions
1. Are Health Navigators making use of best practice when
meeting with patients, in making sure that the information
presented to them is communicated clearly?
2. Are health navigators designing culturally appropriate message
approaches?
3. Are Health Navigators practicing effective communication
skills that allow patients the opportunity to address concerns that
will encourage results in health promoting efforts?
Conceptual Framework
Sample
For this descriptive study the population sample included Patient
Health Navigators employed by GBUAHN. The Health
Navigators are the individuals who, on a daily basis, engage the
patients in promoting health literacy practices. The total number
of the patient health navigators at the time of this research was
twenty-eight. Of the twenty-eight, 10 were randomly selected for
the purpose of this research study.
Recommendation
Based on the results of this research the following
recommendation have been made:
•Future research will attempt to include all of GBUAHN’s
Patient Health Navigators, as this study only focused on ten
due to time constraints of the study.
•Future research will focus more on the type of information
distributed to the diverse population serviced by GBUAHN.
•GBUAHN should explore the highlighted areas of
improvement.
•To better improve and establish a better over all approach to
health literacy promotion, future research will focus on the
literature Ten Attributes of Health Literate Health Care
Organizations. Which illustrate the fundamentals of an
organization with understanding of health literacy needs.