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By: Belinda Z. Burgos González, MPH
How do patients benefit?
Health Literacy (HL) consists of the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services necessary for making informed decisions in one’s health care.
According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), a low level of AS in the population is related to deficiencies in the recognition of symptoms of possible disease, the lack of preventive measures, the incorrect use of medications and the possibility of establishing an appropriate doctor-patient relationship. Likewise, this results in an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, compared to those with a higher AS level.
Breaking down obstacles
On the other hand, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) states health literacy is the responsibility of the entire community, businesses, schools, government agencies, health insurance companies, and media, among others. The administrative staff of a health services provider plays a crucial role in affecting the time of care and long-term costs for the health system. For this reason, we offer you recommendations to contribute to these efforts for the benefit of all patients:
Below, we share key elements to achieve efficient management of patient expectations:
