Have you ever thought that participating in the medical environment is like stepping into another culture? A culture where a heart attack is called a myocardial infarction and a doctor’s order not to eat anything is written as NPO. Very different language than what most real people are used to. As a result many people simply pretend they understand what the doctor or health care provider is saying. This presentation will promote social workers’ use of cross-cultural skills to ensure that all clients have the information they need to make appropriate health decisions.
Objectives
1. Participants will learn to identify how health literacy impacts client health.
2. Participants will recognize how cultural competence applies to health literacy.
3. Participants will understand how to use best practice skills to assist clients with low health literacy.
Dr. Robin Lennon-Dearing is an Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis. She received her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Georgia, and her MSW and BSW from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Her practice experience is primarily in healthcare and medical social work. She worked for three years post-masters as a home health social worker and one year as a hospital social worker. She has been a volunteer support group leader in the HIV community for 12 years. She currently chairs the NASW-TN West Branch Steering Committee.