Response Post

National health literacy campaigns aim to increase health literacy in an attempt to address access to important health information by individuals.1  Health literacy not only means the individual has the capacity through skill and knowledge to understand the health information, it also means the materials being distributed by health organizations are created with the intention of being understood by people who are not in the industry.  The Health Literate Care Model supports the Healthy People 2020 goals of improved health literacy.  The propose enhanced health literacy will improve patient engagement resulting in informed patients making good decisions for their own health.2  Some of the interventions mentioned in the care model include implementing changes at the healthcare organization level.  This would include the implementation of the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Tool Kit.2  It would also include self-management support such as access to an easy to read electronic medical record.  Decision support would include tools to help patients stay engaged in their diagnosis and make decisions regarding their care plan.  These are some of the tools suggested by the Health Literate Care Model.  Implementing this model will not only enhance patient care but will also reduce waste in our medical system and save money.1  

1. National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy | Health Literacy | CDC. Cdcgov. 2018. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/planact/national.html. Accessed March 19, 2018.

2. Koh HK, Brach C, Harris LM, Parchman ML. A Proposed “Health Literate Care Model” Would Constitute A Systems Approach To Improving Patients’ Engagement In Care. Health affairs (Project Hope). 2013;32(2):357-367. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2012.1205.

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