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Literally Improving Patient Outcomes

Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care

Lori Spoo, RN, BS, MHSA

patient care for Girling Health Care and Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, an astounding 90 million Americans struggle with low health literacy. Low healthy literacy is defined as "the ability to read, understand and use health information to make appropriate healthcare decisions and follow instructions for treatment." Patients with low literacy are more likely to be hospitalized, to be in poorer health, and to wait until the later stages of their illness to seek medical attention. Inadequate health literacy is especially prevalent in adults older than 60 and affects nearly 66% of this group. This article contains tips for the home health professional on how he or she can improve the health literacy of his or her patients, which can save lives.

Key Words: health literacy • medication • mismanagement • patient education • teaching • quality • decision • home health

Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 18, No. 4, 270-271 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1084822305284747


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