LCMC Health announced a partnership with the City of New Orleans Health Department to address health literacy, enhance cultural competency, and continue to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates with a new program – Be in the KNOW. This citywide initiative will educate locals on the importance of healthcare advocacy and aims to empower communities for better health.
April is National Minority Health Month, four weeks dedicated to raising awareness of health disparities that continue to affect underserved communities. Historically, many minority communities have expressed an overall lack of trust in hospitals and health systems. In order to continue building trust, and eventually stronger, healthier communities, LCMC Health and the New Orleans Health Department are encouraging individuals and caregivers to take action through health education and community collaboration to increase health literacy in the greater New Orleans area and neighboring communities.
“LCMC Health is proud to kick-off our partnership with the City of New Orleans Health Department during National Minority Health Month to address the needs of our community,” said Toni Flowers, MD, LCMC Health chief diversity and social responsibility officer. “Health equity and health literacy are serious concerns that require caring and smart collaboration. Through this partnership, we will provide our community with the proper tools and resources needed to advocate for better health.”
This exclusive partnership will support the “Advancing Health Literacy in Racial & Ethic Communities in Response to COVID-19 in Orleans Parish” grant awarded to the City of New Orleans by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. The grant and partnership centers on community outreach and engagement to empower the community’s health through the use of grassroots health education, motivational interviewing, and health literacy by providing videos, handouts, and additional support and access needed for community members to take ownership of their health. The grant and partnership will provide educational tools including videos, handouts, and additional support and access needed for community members to take ownership of their health.
This partnership aims to enhance patient and provider communication, increase health literacy in the City of New Orleans, adhere to the COVID-19 health practices of underserved communities, and address class standards training.