The work of the PCHIT Initiative has brought more clearly into focus a conundrum that is both challenge and opportunity. Health disparities and limitations in health literacy create specific challenges for implementing information therapy (Ix) initaitives and patient-centered health information technology (PCHIT) tools. But just as importantly, Ix and PCHIT tools have great potential to address health literacy and health disparities.

In preparation for visits, I learned how a practice at Partners’ Bulfinch Medical Group has evolved its visit prep to allow for multiple access and delivery options–they now now send that Ix via postal mail or the Web. On the back end of visits, I saw how well Ix can be prescribed from a primary care physician to his Spanish-speaking patient at a Kaiser Permanente clinic in Oakland. On the flip side, I witnessed new technologies being misused, creating missed opportunities to engage seniors in using personal health records. I have also observed the challenges of dealing with other communication barriers–whether it be due to health literacy, severe mental health issues, or cultural differences.

What’s clear to me is that we have to find ways to make the best use of these new tools if we are to overcome health disparities. That means that we have to tailor the Ix and PCHIT intervention to specific needs and circumstances of the patient in that exam room or the consumer in his or her home or workplace.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 9:17 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.