October is Health Literacy Month. Year after year, we recognize the issue warrants an awareness month, yet the fundamental role of health literacy in American healthcare remains a low priority. For twelve years, I have walked the streets of cities across America, trying to understand how health information shapes a person’s healthcare engagement and outcomes. Standing on the street, I have been asked for a second opinion about surgery, to review and explain someone’s test results in MyChart, to explain discharge diagnoses and to demystify medical jargon a doctor used. I have an endless list of questions and concerns from strangers who are seeking a trusted source of health information. Although data show 1 in 3 Americans are turning to AI chatbots for health information, my experiences show the need for plain language delivered by a human remains urgent and relevant.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, low health literacy affects most U.S. adults in some way, creating a barrier to care that influences patient outcomes and trust in the healthcare system. For example, a man told me he refused to see a primary care doctor because they speak in a language he does not understand. For decades, health systems and policymakers have attempted to address complex chronic conditions, medication adherence and avoidable hospital readmissions while overlooking this fundamental issue that often drives these outcomes: patients don’t understand what they are told or how to engage with the healthcare system.
The Clinical Impact Of Poor Health Communication
In time-pressured clinical settings that lead to truncated visits, communication is often deprioritized, and doctors may miss cues that a patient doesn’t understand what is being communicated. When patients struggle to comprehend diagnoses, medication regimens or prevention advice, the result is frequently disengagement or poor outcomes. A woman with high blood pressure told me she was motivated to address her hypertension but stopped taking her water pill because she couldn’t be bothered by the inconvenience of frequent bathroom breaks. I explained the connection between water retention, blood pressure and how diuretics work. Once she understood, her adherence improved.
Studies consistently demonstrate that low health literacy is associated with higher rates of emergency department utilization and increased healthcare costs. Yet, institutional responses related to health education often direct people to websites, health portals or written materials. This is no longer how people consume information. It is a reality underscored by federal data showing millions turning to digital tools and AI chatbots for answers. Despite this, health investments continue to support outdated approaches that garner little if any engagement. A consistent finding from my street interviews is that people are searching for answers in digital spaces like social media and community conversations. Rarely do I meet people who are reading written materials with paragraphs.
Health Education Interventions Must Evolve Beyond Written Material
Improving population health requires moving beyond standard educational brochures and automated text reminders. Health literacy involves translating clinical concepts into practical, culturally relevant knowledge that patients can easily use. It must be communicated through channels people already use, like social media and video.
Providers and health systems should adopt plain-language communication as a core competency, ensuring that education is delivered effectively by doctors, nurses, dietitians and other health professionals.
Prioritizing Health Literacy Requires Measures And Accountability
Closing care gaps and reducing avoidable care utilization are the holy grail in healthcare, particularly for payers. Listening to patients and community members has taught me these are not achievable without building trust, and the gateway to trust is health education, relatable information and plain-language communication. Today, healthcare conversations often focus on the need to build trust and become trustworthy in healthcare delivery. What I have learned from the community is that the fastest way to break trust is failing to communicate effectively. Yet we continue to rely on outdated communication strategies for expediency rather than pivoting to meet patients’ needs.
Until health literacy is integrated as a measurable metric of healthcare quality, disparities in health outcomes will persist, regardless of insurance coverage, technological advancements or well-meaning declarations about our commitment to patients and communities.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Source: www.yahoo.com
