Statewide Patient Engagement Campaign Underway

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum have launched a joint, statewide campaign to educate Louisiana’s patients and families about how to use available health information technology (IT) tools to improve their health and health care decision-making.

The ‘Your Health in Your Hands’ campaign launched Aug. 1, making Louisiana the first state in the nation to pioneer a direct-to-consumer campaign that engages patients and families in the use of health IT.

“The ‘Your Health in Your Hands’ campaign is another tool we’re using to make sure Louisianans know that health IT improvements can directly improve their quality of care,” said DHH Secretary Kathy H. Kliebert. “Louisiana is one of the country’s leaders in health IT, and this campaign keeps that trend going.”

“This is something that no other state has yet attempted,” said Cindy Munn, CEO of the Quality Forum. “We are very excited and proud that Louisiana is leading the way and receiving so much positive national attention for these efforts.”

A key component of the campaign is its website, www.makemyhealth.me, where Louisiana residents can find valuable information and resources designed to engage them in their health and health care.

The website features information about health IT tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), patient portals and the statewide health information exchange (HIE).