Health Hints

Health literacy classes focus on working with the system, doctors, drugs

“This program isn’t really about navigating the health care system, because there is no system; it’s about putting together your own resources and knowing the questions to ask so you receive the best health care possible,” according to Dr. Audrey Gordon and Dr. Susan Levy, who presented a series of free classes on health issues this Spring. Additional sets of classes are expected to be presented in late Summer and Autumn.
Sponsored by Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, all sessions of “What You Need to Know for Better Health” are free to the public.

In addition to the class on the health care system, the sessions focused on communicating appropriately with health professionals, creating your family history, maintaining health records and your rights and responsibilities in using health services, and on proper use of medications, drug interactions and the importance of dosage and your medication history. (Click for an article on basic drug concepts.)

Persons who attended the classes said everyone should learn about the information provided. They provided feedback on additional information they would like to have, and these topics may be included in future sessions.

All classes include time for discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Susan Levy is Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a nationally recognized expert on health literacy. Audrey Gordon is a nationally recognized expert on end of life care and gerontology and Executive Director of SELCFIA.
The program, which supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ initiative to improve health literacy nationally, is funded by grants from the Health Care Foundation of Highland Park and from West Deerfield Township.