Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. The Health Literacy Information Specialist is a service oriented knowledge translater who supports and consults on the development and delivery of quality patient health education. The Health Literacy Information Specialist collaborates with families, clinicians, educators, and community partners in developing and implementing health literacy strategies that are accessible, acceptable, and equitable to meet current and emerging patient learning needs and are in alignment with clinical program, agency and PHSA goals and objectives. The Specialist raises awareness of health literacy among health professionals on the importance of plain language and health literacy principles, provides access to vetted health literacy tools and educational resources. The Specialist manages library services at the Family Support & Resource Centre (FSRC) to ensure the effective delivery of quality consumer health information to staff, students, patients and families.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Provides library services including assisting patients, families and staff find and access health information, manages the library/bookstore catalogue and the library collection, as well as supervises, trains and coordinates FSRC staff and volunteers.
• Develops and provides health education and health literacy services andinstruction to support Health Literacy among clinicians, staff, and their patients.
• Identifies and addresses health literacy needs in high risk situations and with underserved populations such as through developing inservices, development of information materials for distribution and providing in person follow-up.
• Manages multiple projects for patient and family education resources and health literacy initiatives in collaboration with an inter-professional team which includes patient and family advisory committees and external partners.
• In collaboration with PHSA/BCCH/BCW Communications, and website group or committees, actively participates in the development, selection and evaluation of web resources for subject guides and other client services.
• Designs and provides access to print, audiovisual, and social media content that is easy to understand and act upon for patients, families, and health care providers. Providing health care providers with plain language, patient friendly materials and providing access to plain language materials to patients and families.
• Evaluates, selects and promotes the use of current and emerging technologies including print, audio, video, web based, social media and e-learning formats that meets the standards of excellence to increase patient access to health information.

Qualifications:

A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in an appropriate field, such as Library or Information Studies , Education, Communications, Information Technology,. A minimum of five (5) years of recent related experience with a background in healthcare preferred, including supervisory experience.
Demonstrated expertise in supervising and training staff and volunteers, and knowledge and training in the identification, selection, organization and dissemination of evidence-based information, ability to recognize and set priorities, high level of computer literacy, including knowledge of automated systems, on-line databases, web applications, strong interest in collaborating and working with clinicians, patients, families and students. Strong commitment to client-focused service and for innovative and collaborative instruction approaches. Ability to work effectively with a diverse client community, proven excellent oral and written communication skills with a broad range of stakeholders, coupled with an ability to function at a high level in a complex and changing interdisciplinary healthcare environment. Sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to integrate high quality, and evidence based health information, and demonstrates initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt and work creatively in a rapidly changing environment.