HOUSTON--()--To address the growing problem of low health-literacy levels and to help Houstonians access online, easy-to-read and reliable health information in multiple languages, The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), the Houston Public Library and the Houston Department of Health and Human Services launched four Wellness Information Zone Centers (WZ Centers) at libraries in the greater Houston area.
“By addressing this critical problem, we hope to positively impact the health of the Houston community.”
A new WZ Center, provided by The Humana Foundation, was unveiled today at Houston Public Library Central Library. The three other WZ Centers are located at Carnegie Neighborhood Library, HPL Express Southwest and the new Vinson Neighborhood Library.
The new high-tech WZ Centers enable library patrons to access free, accurate and timely health information in everyday language through an innovative Web site, wellzone.org. This health literacy Web site quickly connects individuals and their families to free, reliable health information with content written at a third- to sixth-grade level, including talking guides and multiple language options such as Spanish, Vietnamese and French.
“The Humana Foundation’s Wellness Information Zone Centers will go a long way toward improving health literacy in Houston,” said Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, director, Houston Public Library. “The WZ Centers and wellzone.org address the critical need of giving our residents a means of researching illnesses and other health-related issues.”
Navigation is easy with four main areas of content: (1) diseases and medicines, (2) tests and treatments, (3) health and safety tips for all ages, and (4) links to local resources, such as health facilities and government programs.
“Research shows that low health literacy is the strongest predictor of health problems, more than age, income, employment status or race,” said Virginia K. Judd, executive director of The Humana Foundation. “By addressing this critical problem, we hope to positively impact the health of the Houston community.”
Today, in addition to the four WZ Center locations in Houston, there are WZ Centers in five Atlanta libraries and three Atlanta health department locations. The WZ Centers and wellzone.org were first launched in Atlanta in September 2007 through a partnership with The Humana Foundation and the Atlanta-Fulton and DeKalb County public library systems.
Additional information can be obtained through the program’s Web site – www.wellzone.org.
About The Humana Foundation
The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., one of the nation's leading health benefits companies. A private foundation located in Louisville, Kentucky — the site of Humana’s corporate headquarters — The Humana Foundation supports and nurtures charitable activities that promote healthy lives and healthy communities.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.4 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases
- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
- Corporate Governance Information
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