WHEREAS, health literacy is the degree to which people are able to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services; and
WHEREAS, the health care system, including prescription directions, insurance forms, education materials, informed consent documents, and other printed and verbal information is complex and confusing to most people; and
WHEREAS, adults with limited or low health literacy have less knowledge of disease management and health promoting behaviors, report poor health status, are less likely to use preventive services and have a 30 to 70 percent increased risk of hospitalization; and
WHEREAS, at least one-third of all Kansas adults have difficulty reading and understanding basic health information;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the National Action Plan lays out seven primary goals for action, and calls on the states to respond; and
WHEREAS, the Kansas Health Literacy Advisory Council, representing state agencies, health providers and other statewide organizations concerned about health literacy; and
WHEREAS, increasing Kansans understanding of basic health care will have a positive effect on access, utilization, cost reduction, provider-patient interactions and ultimately our individual health; and
WHEREAS, health literacy is a key to the success of any reforms in our health care system.
NOW THEREFORE, I, MARK PARKINSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Kansas do hereby designate October 2010 as
Health Literacy Kansas Month
WHEREAS, the health care system, including prescription directions, insurance forms, education materials, informed consent documents, and other printed and verbal information is complex and confusing to most people; and
WHEREAS, adults with limited or low health literacy have less knowledge of disease management and health promoting behaviors, report poor health status, are less likely to use preventive services and have a 30 to 70 percent increased risk of hospitalization; and
WHEREAS, at least one-third of all Kansas adults have difficulty reading and understanding basic health information;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the National Action Plan lays out seven primary goals for action, and calls on the states to respond; and
WHEREAS, the Kansas Health Literacy Advisory Council, representing state agencies, health providers and other statewide organizations concerned about health literacy; and
WHEREAS, increasing Kansans understanding of basic health care will have a positive effect on access, utilization, cost reduction, provider-patient interactions and ultimately our individual health; and
WHEREAS, health literacy is a key to the success of any reforms in our health care system.
NOW THEREFORE, I, MARK PARKINSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Kansas do hereby designate October 2010 as
Health Literacy Kansas Month
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