Health literacy symposium a prescription for awareness

Nipissing University, in partnership with the North Bay Literacy Council is pleased to announce the Health Literacy Symposium: Health Literacy Awareness Translated into Action.
The symposium will be held August 29 at the North Bay Regional Health Centre auditorium from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Health literacy is an individual’s ability to read, understand and use healthcare information to make informed decisions in order to live a healthier life. Skills such as reading, writing, listening, speaking, numeracy and critical analysis are key components of health literacy that affect the communication between health professionals and patients. 

More than half of Canadians lack the basic literacy skills to understand medication and safety instructions, a figure that approaches 90 per cent among seniors, according to a report by the Canadian Council on Learning.  The ability to calculate cholesterol and blood sugar levels, determine the correct dosage of medications, choose drug plans, fill out complex forms, and locate providers and services, are all forms of health literacy.  

“We are excited to be part of this symposium which will bring together health professionals dedicated to raising awareness of our community needs in health literacy,” stated professor of nursing, Karey McCullough. “Our common goal, as educators of health and literacy, is to determine the best ways to communicate to people how they can be proactive about their own health care concerns and that of loved ones. People need to be aware of resources available to them.”

The symposium, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, serves to explore health literacy in Canada, implement strategies, discuss medical training and address local literacy and health initiatives. A wide spectrum of health care providers will share their expertise as it relates to their own practices and experiences in order to explore ways to identify individuals with low literacy and to develop the best practices for successful intervention. 

Presenters include: Dr. Linda Shohet, Director of Center for Literacy QuebecFarrah Schwartz, Toronto Rehabilitation InstituteJulie Patterson, Literacy and Health Project Manager, North Bay Regional Health Centre Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, North Bay Parry Sound District Health UnitDr. Rick Vanderlee, Dean, Faculty of Applied and Professional Studies, Nipissing UniversityLeslie Manary, OR and PACU Clinician, North Bay Regional Health Centre Pam Simpson, Pharmacist, Robinson’s PharmasaveJane Jackson, Executive Coordinator at North Bay Literacy CouncilDr. Jacques Abourbih, Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences, Northern Ontario School of Medicine
For more information about the symposium, contact Julie Patterson or Jane Jackson at the North Bay Literacy Council, 705-494-9416 or visit thewebsite.  

Registration is open to everyone.