In recognition of Health Literacy Month, the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is hosting a day of learning about the importance of communicating and understanding health information.

To support this effort, GHD’s Health & Wellness Library is hosting a free morning training on Friday, Oct. 13, for local health care professionals called “Paging Dr. Google,” which will introduce impact of low health literacy on health outcomes, and ways to help patients find and understand reliable health information. The training is available to providers in any health or human services setting who communicate health information.

Later that day, an East County Health & Community Resource Fair will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the GHD district campus in La Mesa.

More than 20 local nonprofit providers of health and wellness services will be on hand to share information with East County residents, and answer questions. This event is free and open to the public.

“Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to find, understand, and use the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their own health,” said GHD’s Chief Community Health Officer Amy Abrams. It is widely recognized as a critical issue that results in higher rates of hospitalization, less compliance with treatment recommendations, and poorer health outcomes.

Addressing health literacy gaps in the communities of San Diego’s East County is one of the District’s strategic objectives. “The rich diversity of our region requires that providers learn to communicate health information effectively with people whose English-language skills are limited, or who are newly arrived to this country and may not understand how our health care system works,” added Abrams.

More details about Health Literacy Day are available at: grossmonthealthcare.org/community/health-literacy-day/.

Photo credit: Pixabay.com