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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

#RuralHealthChat: Addressing Health Literacy in Rural America

Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes

Health Literacy is defined as an individual’s ability to find, understand, and use health information and services to better inform their health decisions and actions. In addition, health literacy can refer to how well healthcare organizations enable that understanding and use of health information among patients and the public. Many rural residents face unique barriers to health literacy including complex healthcare system demands, geographic location, lack of culturally and linguistically adapted materials, and limited resources. Improving health literacy is vital for rural individuals to make informed health decisions for themselves and others.

Co-Host:

  • National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) – @NOSORH

Special Guests:

  • NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis – @WalshCenter
  • Kellie Kubena, USDA Rural Development – @usdaRD
  • National Rural Health Association – @NRHA_Advocacy
  • Horowitz Center for Health Literacy – @UMDHealthLit
  • Florida Health Literacy Coalition – @FloridaLiteracy
  • Shannon Wu, Sr. Assoc. Director, American Hospital Association – @ahahospitals
  • UAMS Center for Health Literacy – @UAMS_CHL
  • Michelle Hutchinson, Health Literacy Lead, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – @CDC_eHealth
  • Noah Lenstra, Director, Let's Move in Libraries – @LetsMoveLibrary

In celebration of National Rural Health Day, we used the hashtags #RuralHealthChat and #PowerofRural to tweet with expert co-hosts and special guests about health literacy in rural communities. To see the full conversation and access the resources shared, check them out below, via List.ly.