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Health Literacy: A Prescription for Clarity

A Curriculum for Health Professionals

The Florida AHEC Network, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health, has developed a comprehensive health literacy curriculum for health care professionals. This curriculum is designed to support health professionals striving to meet the Healthy People 2010 Goal of improving the health literacy of persons with inadequate or marginal literacy skills. This national objective is a critical step in understanding and improving the health of the nation. Low health literacy negatively affects the health outcomes of millions of American adults each year, and adds an estimated $73 billion a year to health care costs.

Access to information regarding problems of health literacy is imperative to health care professionals and health professions students everywhere. The curriculum includes a PowerPoint presentation on a CD, a speaker/trainer guide, and a resource directory. Information about low health literacy, and practical suggestions for improving verbal and written communication between providers and patients with low health literacy is included in this curriculum.

Did You Know?

• Low health literacy is a common problem in the United States and in Florida.
• Forty-six percent of American adults can't understand the label on a prescription.
• Low health literacy increases health care costs by $73 billion a year.
• Low health literacy may affect the quality of care and have negative effects on health.

Goal: To educate healthcare professionals in Florida on how to improve their own skills on how to work with patients with low health literacy.

Participants will:

• Increase their knowledge of health literacy.
• Be able to state at least 3 ways to improve verbal communication skills with patients with low literacy skills.
• Be able to describe 3 characteristics of appropriate health education material for patients with low literacy skills.

Curriculum Content
What is Literacy?
Magnitude of Problem Nationwide and in Florida
Why is Low Literacy a Problem?
What is Health Literacy?
Why is Low Health Literacy a Problem?
What Can We Do About It?
Additional Resources

To purchase a copy of this curriculum call Rachel Chase, (386) 462-1551. Purchase price is $99.99 per curriculum.

Purchase this program online (coming soon!)