BRENTWOOD, CA — A new countywide coalition is tackling one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: helping people understand how and when to use it. The newly launched Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County is leading a public education campaign to help people make better use of their health coverage, avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and get the care they need—more affordably and effectively. The pilot will start in the fall in Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen and Oakley.
Formed by County Supervisor Diane Burgis, in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the Council brings together community stakeholders to educate residents—particularly those on Medicare and Medi-Cal—about navigating a complex healthcare system with confidence.
“It’s no secret that today’s healthcare system is complex and often overwhelming,” said Supervisor Burgis. “Too many of our residents are confused, anxious and frustrated by medical policies they don’t understand. We’ve come together as a Council to address this challenge and offer residents the support and information they need to navigate this complexity and make wise decisions that protect both their health and their pocketbooks.”
The Council’s education program will equip residents of the easternmost part of Contra Costa County with the information they need to become more confident, informed healthcare consumers. In addition to a community-wide outreach and advertising campaign, the Council will train college students to deliver healthcare literacy classes to older residents, high schoolers and other community groups this fall.
“Part of the strength of this approach is engaging every sector of our community in helping residents understand the most appropriate and efficient way to use their healthcare,” said Pam Galley, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Diablo Service Area. “We expect to rapidly expand the Council to include a wide variety of community organizations that share our commitment to improving health literacy.”
The outreach and education campaign will reach far East County residents, with a special focus on Medicare and Medi-Cal enrollees, who often face the greatest barriers to navigating the healthcare system. The Council envisions far-reaching impacts–reduced patient anxiety, a healthier workforce, improved school attendance and empowered residents who can share what they’ve learned with their families and friends.
“By educating the public about how to use healthcare appropriately, we’re also hoping to lighten the load on overburdened hospital emergency departments,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, interim director of Contra Costa Health. “These facilities are too often being used when more comfortable, appropriate and affordable alternatives like doctors’ offices, clinics and urgent care centers are available. If we can help direct people to better alternatives for non-emergency needs, we can alleviate crowding in emergency rooms and reduce stress for healthcare workers and patients alike.”
The Council is meeting regularly to finalize messaging, outreach plans and promotional efforts. In addition to developing a comprehensive, bilingual website to guide people on where and how best to get care, the campaign will also start public outreach and training courses this fall. With scalable goals and clear evaluation metrics, the campaign is poised to expand to the remainder of the county in the coming years.
For more information on the Healthcare Literacy Council and its programs, visit www.RightCareRightWay.org
