In a perfect world, patients would leave their doctors’ offices knowing everything about their medical conditions and treatment options. They’d know when to get health screenings, how to take their medicines, what immunizations their children need, exactly what their insurance covers and where to submit insurance forms.
According to the Institute of Medicine, however, in the real world, low health literacy prevents some 90 million people from clearly understanding and correctly using health information.
“Health literacy is a crucial part of receiving quality health care,” says David P. Crosby, president of HealthAmerica. “Research shows that it’s vital to good patient care and for positive health outcomes. Because low health literacy influences health care costs, employers have a stake in making sure their employees are health literate.”
Smart Business spoke with Crosby about why employers should be concerned about low health literacy and how they can help their employees become health literate.
What is health literacy?
Health literacy is the ability to read, understand and act on health information. Health care is complicated, and health care providers require a special language to do their jobs.
Low health literacy is not caused by a lack of education; it’s about miscommunication caused by the use of unclear language and overly technical terms.
Who is affected by low health literacy?
It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. A person who has finished high school and knows how to read may still not be able to navigate the health system. Even well-educated, professionally skilled people have trouble from time to time understanding their doctor or their recommended treatment.
What is the economic impact of low health literacy?
One report suggests that low health literacy is a major source of economic inefficiency in the U.S. health care system, costing the United States anywhere from $106 billion to $236 billion annually.
When we account for the future costs that result from current actions (or lack of action), the real present-day cost is closer to a range of $1.6 trillion to $3.6 trillion.
