BOISE, ID--(Marketwired - September 30, 2015) - "Health literacy is a state, not a trait." This phrase, often attributed to Dr. Dean Schillinger, speaks to the strategic importance and value of plain language in making health information simpler to understand, easier to act upon, and beneficial to organizations pursuing the triple aim of better health, better care, and lower costs. This October, Healthwise will once again mark Health Literacy Month. Through a series of activities that demonstrate how plain and clear health content can increase member and patient engagement, Healthwise experts will provide health care organizations with tips and tricks to better address health literacy issues.

Healthwise has spent the last four decades developing health education that meets people where they are, regardless of age, income, or education level. The Center for Plain Language has recognized Healthwise for its commitment to and excellence in plain language with four ClearMark Awards in recent years, including the Grand ClearMark Award in 2010.

"Both Healthwise and health literacy have sprouted from very humble beginnings to become powerful forces in a health care evolution -- revolution, even -- where patients truly are at the center of care, and where they have access to information and services they can understand and use," said Karen Baker, vice president of mission initiatives at Healthwise and board member for the Center for Plain Language.

During the monthlong initiative, Healthwise experts will share their knowledge through a webinar, a blog series, a tweet chat, and an eBook, focusing on themes such as:

• Presenting numerical information in ways that both inform and engage health consumers.
• Exploring everyday challenges in understanding health content.
• Addressing health literacy issues through personal, cultural, and structural changes.

More information on Healthwise activities to mark Health Literacy Month can be found at www.healthwise.org/healthliteracy.aspx.

About Healthwise

Healthwise is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help people make better health decisions. In 2014, Healthwise merged with the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation to further advance the mission. People have turned to Healthwise information more than 1.5 billion times to learn how to do more for themselves, ask for the care they need, and say "no" to the care they don't need. Healthwise partners with hospitals, electronic medical record (EMR) providers, health plans, care management companies, and health websites to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information to the people they serve. www.healthwise.org. 1.800.706.9646.

© 2015 Healthwise, Incorporated.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise.
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