{"id":3499,"date":"2014-12-04T16:02:55","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T00:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wapatientsafety.org\/?p=3499"},"modified":"2019-08-02T22:26:10","modified_gmt":"2019-08-02T22:26:10","slug":"health-literacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/2014\/12\/04\/health-literacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Literacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Kate Brostoff<\/strong>
\nSenior Medical Director at CHPW<\/em><\/p>\n

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Only 12% of adults in the US have proficient health literacy. Over a third of US adults have difficulty with common health tasks, such as following directions on a prescription drug label or adhering to a childhood immunization schedule using a standard chart. Limited health literacy affects adults in all racial and ethnic groups and across socio-economic class. To improve health outcomes, patients have to be engaged and feel that they have a voice in making decisions about their care. In order to do that we, as providers of care, have to be sure they understand what we are communicating. Here are a few tips from the Health Literate Care Model:<\/p>\n