It’s estimated that more than 90 million Americans have low health literacy, which means they may not be able to understand health information, make informed choices about their care, or navigate the complex healthcare system. It can lead to confusion, compromised patient safety, and costly medical mistakes. The Joint Commission calls upon healthcare providers to provide effective communication for patients and families and integrate health literacy concepts into their practice, but not all providers have the skills or training to do so. Get an introduction to health literacy and related concepts, strategies to improve communication with patients, and instructions on locating appropriate cancer-related patient education resources.
