Opinion: Improving patient literacy at The Kitchen Clinic

A quote by Margaret Mead is a perfect summary of how we at Health Literacy Missouri approach our work: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

While many of our activities occur at our St. Louis headquarters, we truly are a statewide organization, with projects across Missouri, from Greene County to Milan to the Bootheel to Kansas City.

The Missouri Foundation for Health has generously funded 31 health literacy demonstration projects that are now changing lives across the state. Each project tests innovative community-based approaches to improving health literacy and includes a rigorous evaluation plan. HLM is here to assist these projects with the goal of replicating the most successful among them.

Recently, a team led by Nick Butler, HLM manager of community engagement, toured three of the projects, including The Kitchen Clinic in Springfield. The clinic provides free medical care to Missourians through volunteer medical professionals, grants, cash donations and contributions of medical supplies. A foundation grant funds a health literacy worker who helps clinic patients learn how to take their medications and follow their doctors’ orders after their medical appointments.

The project is very successful. A year ago, The Kitchen Clinic’s patients could identify only two-thirds of their own medications. Today, they can identify 90 percent. The purpose of HLM’s visit was to identify ways our organizations can partner to improve the health of patients through improved health literacy.

The concept of “health literacy” can often feel stuck in the realm of academia. We at HLM are trying to bridge the gap between science and research, and practical use and lifestyle change. Our staff will continue to make these visits across the state, looking for new and innovative ways to make health understandable by all.

—Dr. Arthur J. Culbert, Health Literacy Missouri president/CEO[[In-content Ad]]