Health Literacy Training Low health literacy is associated with adverse patient outcomes, increase risk of hospital admissions, readmissions and increase mortality rates. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report found that 90 million American adults do not have literacy skills to use the health system in the Unites States effectively (Parker & Kindig, 2006). The IOM report defined health literacy as, “ the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions” (Parker & Kindig, 2006, p. 891). The terms health literacy and literacy should not be used interchangeably. Literacy is defined as the, ability to speak, write and read at levels necessary to function in society or in a job (Bass, 2005). It is surprising that over 300 studies have indicated most people cannot understand health related information and materials given to them (Anonymous, 2004).
This case study is about a hospital who noticed a 25% increase in readmissions for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients over one month’s time. After further review of patient charts, …show more content…
It is widely known patients who are best informed have better outcomes, well-coordinated services, seek care early with recognized warning signs and understand how to self-manage their illness. However, most healthcare systems have not provided one set of materials for all literacy levels to be met. The average American adult reads at the eighth grade level (Parker, Ratzan, & Lurie, 2003). More than 21% of American or one in five adults read below the fifth grade level (Bass, 2005). Documents provided to patients are often at a higher reading level and difficult to understand. It is a social injustice that there is not equal opportunity to all who enter the healthcare system to be able understand
This case study is about a hospital who noticed a 25% increase in readmissions for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients over one month’s time. After further review of patient charts, …show more content…
It is widely known patients who are best informed have better outcomes, well-coordinated services, seek care early with recognized warning signs and understand how to self-manage their illness. However, most healthcare systems have not provided one set of materials for all literacy levels to be met. The average American adult reads at the eighth grade level (Parker, Ratzan, & Lurie, 2003). More than 21% of American or one in five adults read below the fifth grade level (Bass, 2005). Documents provided to patients are often at a higher reading level and difficult to understand. It is a social injustice that there is not equal opportunity to all who enter the healthcare system to be able understand