From The Blog: Health Literacy Month

In today’s complex healthcare landscape, health literacy is crucial. For healthcare patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”

October is nationally recognized as Health Literacy Month, so we’re taking some time to discuss why health literacy is important and how it can empower individuals and organizations.

The Importance of Health Literacy

So, why is health literacy important? Healthcare professionals spend years learning medical terminology, names of medications, and a plethora of other field-specific knowledge. Although this is essential for them, it can make it difficult to relay important information to patients in an accessible way.

If a patient cannot understand the information provided, they are unable to make informed decisions about their own health, leading to poor health outcomes. Unfortunately, low health literacy is common, especially among those who:

  • Self-report poor health
  • Are aged 65 or older
  • Had health insurance from Medicare or Medicaid, or had no insurance
  • Live below the poverty level
  • Are Hispanic or Black

Improving Health Literacy

To create more equitable healthcare, health literacy must be a priority for organizations, especially for those providing care to the aforementioned individuals. Improved health literacy results in an increase in positive health outcomes, a higher satisfaction of care, and possibly even lower healthcare costs due to reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Patients can take steps to improve their own health literacy, which allows for better self-advocacy:

  1. Prepare for health visits by making a plan of what you want to discuss.
  2. Do not hesitate to ask questions. When you ask questions, also repeat back the answer to ensure you fully understand it.
  3. Request that information is presented in plain language with handouts, diagrams, or photos, if applicable.
  4. Bring a friend, family member, or caregiver when possible. An extra set of ears is always helpful, and they can help advocate on your behalf.
  5. Utilize technology when it’s available. Some providers offer online scheduling, test results, prescription information, and ways to communicate with your provider.
  6. Request a translator, interpreter, or provider who speaks your first language.
  7. Lastly, be cautious when utilizing the media for health information. Although it can be a helpful tool, misinformation about health is very common on social media, websites, etc.

Use these tips to take control of your healthcare experience and decide how to best care for yourself! And make sure to visit CommuniCare’s blog to get more helpful tips and health information.