What is Health Literacy?
Health Literacy is defined 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.” (IOM).
In other words, Health Literacy comprises the skills and knowledge one’s doctor, government, and insurance company expect a person to have in order to make good health choices. These can include finding providers, using preventative services, researching health concerns, and applying health information to your lifestyle.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that 88% of Americans struggle with some health literacy skills. Healthy People 2020 has a goal of increasing health literacy through the creation of easier to read websites.
Health Literacy: Skills and Knowledge
Health Literacy skills that help you take charge of your health care include knowing how to:
- Communicate well with your doctors
- Understand and maximize your health insurance
- Use our medical system well: Preventative screenings, Specialists, Medications, Treatments
- Research and evaluate health information, Understand information on nutrition labels, Use self-management skills for chronic illnesses
- Respond to public health alerts, Understand 504 and IEP plans
- Specialized Health Literacy Skills may be required when dealing with the following:
- Pharmacology, Dental, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Cancer, Pregnancy, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Brain Injury
Karen Laing is a published author!
We all think that stress is “bad” for our health. But did you know that you couldn’t survive without some stress in your life. Your body thrives on it! On the other hand, chronic stress can have long term health complications and can make many diseases impossible to successfully treat. Come learn more about how stress impacts health and how to lessen the bad kinds of stress in your life.
Click on the buttons below the book’s picture to order this book. Or Click on the button directly below to find out about all of Karen’s books.
Watch a video of my class, teaching community members about important health literacy skills.
You can read articles by me and other women writers on Elaine Houston’s website, SheSpeaks2Me.com.
I was on The Capitol Pressroom radio show with Timothy Williams, explaining how Health Literacy for All is helping educate people about Medicare and the NYS Health Exchange health insurance options.
Below is an interview I did on what Health Literacy is, on NYS Assembly TV. Many thanks to Assemblyman Angelo Santa Barbara for doing the interview.