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NJ Healthcare Equity Conference Speaker to Reveal Top Health Literacy Strategies

New Jersey’s rich diversity is reflected in the more than 130 different languages spoken by its residents–26 percent of which speak a language other than English.

The American Conference on Diversity will help healthcare professionals and administrators bridge this disparities gap during the annual Healthcare Equity Conference on November 1 (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) in Princeton. Sponsored by the Horizon Foundation for NJ, “Health Literacy: Improving the Quality and Safety of Care for Diverse Populations” will help attendees to create an inclusive culture of care that welcomes people of all languages, cultures, ages, and faiths.

Headlining the one-day event will be health literacy and equity expert Jann Keenan, president of Maryland-based The Keenan Group, Inc. During her presentation titled “Small Investment/Big Impact,” she will share the top eight strategies to creating a truly health literate organization.

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For more than 25 years, Ms. Keenan has advocated for the health and welfare of patients through her work in health literacy, plain language, and cultural competency. In 1995, she formed The Keenan Group to bring together a bank of talented experts in adult education, communications, marketing, usability, evaluation, graphic design, and videography to create clear communications and enhance patient population outcomes. She has helped government and state agencies, hospitals and managed-care systems, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies, and universities promote clear communications. She offers lively workshops for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Joint Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Food and Drug Administration, National Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, among other organizations. Ms. Keenan has also raised medical adherence. She was integral in developing the plain-language labels currently used on all U.S. over-the-counter drug products. As a result, she received Maryland’s Governor’s Award, Maryland’s Black Legislative Caucus Citation, and Maryland’s House of Delegates Citation.

A founding member of the Clear Language Group Consortium, Ms. Keenan:

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Writes and designs nationally recognized plain-language booklets, posters, newsletters, and curriculum, with more 400 print pieces to date–She received seven awards for outstanding plain-language writing and design from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Secretary of Health’s Special Recognition Award.

►Creates engaging plain-language websites, kiosks, and videos

►Delivers comprehensive social marketing campaigns with health literacy at their core–With more than two dozen health initiatives under her belt, Ms. Keenan offers focus groups and individual interview field testing to make sure messaging is spot-on. To learn more about The Keenan Group, please visit http://www.healthliteracyworks.com/index.asp.

“Healthcare equity and literacy is essential for a just society,” says the American Conference on Diversity President and CEO Elizabeth Williams-Riley. “Our annual conference provides practitioners and administrators with the skills they need to improve outcomes for all of New Jersey’s patients.”

The $25 non-refundable registration fee will include continental breakfast, lunch, and all materials. To register, please visit http://HealthEquityConference2013.kintera.org.

About the American Conference on Diversity

The programs, services, and initiatives of the American Conference on Diversity are among the most important work focused on creating a more inclusive society. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse nation: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders; enhancing our workplaces; and helping to create inclusive communities. The American Conference on Diversity, which has been serving schools, organizations, workplaces, and communities in New Jersey since 1948, builds on a historic mission and creates programs and activities relevant and vital to 21st Century life. It is a journey we can all take together. The American Conference on Diversity operates eight chapters to help us to educate and empower leaders and bring our messages of inclusion and respect to communities throughout New Jersey: Atlantic County Chapter, Bayonne Chapter, Central Jersey Chapter, Essex County Chapter, Greater Bergen Chapter, Hudson County Chapter, Jersey Shore Chapter, and Mercer County Chapter. Visit www.AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org to learn more.

 

Contact

Gail Zoppo

Media Relations Consultant

109 Church Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

gail@AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org

732-745-9330

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