FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: John Marshall, Communications Director
Telephone: 314-842-8655 Ex.189
Email: jmarshall@signaturehealth.net
Website: http://www.signaturefoundation.org

Physician Led Health Foundation Grants $5,000 to Fund Health Literacy Initiative

( St. Louis, July 6, 2005)  The Signature Healthcare Foundation has awarded $5,000 to the St. Louis Regional Health Commission. The grant will be used in support of the St. Louis Health Literacy Summit to be held early in 2006. An oversized check was presented at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library at 1301 Olive St., on Wednesday, July 6, by the Signature Healthcare Foundation Board Chair, Herman Noah, to Peter Sortino, Chair, of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission.

The Health Literacy Summit supports the St. Louis Regional Health Commission which was created in 2001 by Governor Holden, Mayor Slay and County Executive Westfall. The purpose of the Summit is to provide current information about the impact of low health literacy on health outcomes, provide information about methods and practices to increase health literacy, and encourage regional collaboration to improve health literacy.

Signature Health Care Foundation was formed in 2002 by Signature Health Systems, Inc. with a vision to “be a recognized leader in the local and national health care dialogue and spearhead physician leadership in improvements and efficiencies in the health care delivery system.”  The mission of the Foundation is to utilize physician leadership to improve the quality, efficiency and affordability of health care in the St. Louis area and nationally. Grants are awarded to not-for-profit organizations that attend the Foundation's annual policy forum. This year's forum will be held on the morning of Thursday, November 3, at the Frontenac Hilton.

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