Essay on Health Literacy - 776 Words

Health Literacy Health illiteracy has become referred to as the silent epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy showed only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy. That means nine out of ten adults may lack the needed skills to adequately manage their health and prevent disease. Healthy People 2010 define health literacy as â€Å"the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health care related decisions.† These are the skills that people need to find the right place in the hospital, fill out insurance forms, and communicate appropriately with†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It was estimated in 1998 that between $35-73 billion was wasted in prolonged hospital stays and frequent doctors visits related to low health literacy† (Ickes, MEd Cottrell, DEd, CHES, 2010, p. 492). With all of the previously mentioned problems of poor health literacy, individuals who fall into these categories are also more likely to die at an early age. Is there a solution to this costly societal problem? The long-term solution rests in the hands of health education beginning in kindergarten and continuing throughout college. We need more community involvement with this issue. It not only affects the health illiterate but those that are very health literate. It raises the costs of health care enormously. Despite massive technological advances and that we spend twice as much per capita on healthcare in the United States, we remain one of the unhealthiest nations in the world. Low health literacy contributes to our grim future. We have high rates of infant mortality; increased mortality related to chronic, preventable disease processes; and cancer mortality could be greatly reduced by early detection. Health literacy is both a consumer and public healthcare issue. As a health care provider, it is not only my responsibility to ensure that you understand your health and what is going onShow MoreRelatedHealth Literacy And The Health1603 Words   |  7 Pagesexpectancy, but as a nation we are sicker. In May of 2010 the United States Department of Health and Human Services implemented The National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy in efforts to improve health literacy and the health of the nation. The Center for Disease and Control defines Health Literacy as the level of which a person can access, communicate, evaluate and understand basic health information. Health Literacy can range from knowledge about preventative care, treatment and awareness of allRead MoreUnderstanding Literacy, And Health Literacy1665 Words   |  7 PagesUnderstanding Literacy, and Health Literacy An understanding of literacy, and health literacy is crucial to understand their impact on client health outcomes. Further, a nurse’s ability to better educate clients lies in his or her understanding of these terms. Literacy is a multilayered, dynamic and complex topic; however, in short literacy is a set of skills including reading, writing oral skills, numeracy skills, and skills that enable us to acquire knowledge and information (Keefe CopelandRead MoreUnderstanding Literacy, And Health Literacy1663 Words   |  7 PagesAn understanding of literacy, and health literacy is crucial to understand their impact on client health outcomes. Further, a nurse’s ability to better educate clients lies in his or her understanding of these terms. Literacy is a multilayered, dynamic and complex topic; however, in short literacy is a set of skills including reading, writing oral skills, numeracy skills, and skills that enable us to acquire knowledge and information (Keefe Cop eland, 2011). 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When a patient has poor health literacy, they are more likely to have a poor outcome in regards to their health. There are bills and initiatives that address the need for patients to increase their health literacy as well as the healthcare providers’ responsibilities to provide the information in a way