Health Care Is For the Literate: Improving Health One Step at a Time

Abstract

The health care system favors the literate. People who know how to gain access, complete myriad and formidable forms, and understand the information they are given have a much higher probability of receiving quality health care, following self-care regimens accurately, and maintaining their health. Improving health literacy has become a national imperative, as evidenced by recent major health policy changes and reforms. A cultural shift involving administrators, clinicians, and consumers is necessary for equalizing health care for all citizens and can be facilitated through the numerous informational and educational sites now available on the Internet.

KEYWORDS:

• Health literacy

Notes

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