Reading Round-Up: Epic Holds Annual Book Drive

People who read at lower levels are generally 1.5 to 3 times more likely to have an adverse health outcome than those who read at higher levels, according to the Journal of General Internal Medicine. To help improve literacy in Wisconsin, Epic staff donate books for community organizations, including Reach Out & Read and local school districts.

Reach Out & Read delivers books to clinics where clinicians give them to children and offer them in waiting rooms and exam rooms.

“Partnering with Reach Out & Read is about asking ourselves ‘What can we do?’ to have an impact on outcomes for people, either in the healthcare system or as a company,” said Kate Parr, who has helped organize the book drive since 2014.

Staff donated nearly 1,500 books in the 5th annual Epic-wide book drive.