SPRING 2019
Rosie Webb dropped out of high school after the
death of her brother. She turned to drugs to numb
the pain. When her daughter was born, she
decided she wanted to be a good role model for
her daughter. Rosie received her GED at Lanier
Tech and took an internship while getting her
nurse practitioner certificate. She is now a senior
practice nurse in Dawsonville, GA and in the
process of buying her first home.
Left: Rosie Webb and her daughter, Layla, at her
graduation ceremony for her GED at Lanier Tech.
Health Literacy: Implications for Healthcare Providers
D
r . Ruth McCaffrey, DNP, APRN, FAAN, FAANP, is a nurse practitioner and the
director of the Nursing Practice Program at Mercer University in Atlanta. She is
also a volunteer at the Community Helping Place free medical clinic in
Dahlonega, GA. She says healthcare providers have a critical role to play when
treating underserved populations with low literacy.
“Patients don't call me Dr. McCaffrey even though I am a DNP. They call me Ruth,”
she said. “We sit down and we hold hands or I put my hand around his or her
shoulder and say, ‘Okay, let's talk about what's going on here. Let me help you
understand. I think that helps them to feel more on an equal footing.S”
McCaffrey says the literacy gap between many doctors and their patients is because
of how physicians and nurses are educated. “Doctors are educated as scientists.,” she
said. “They hone in on the problems, diagnose, and treat the symptoms and disease.
Sometimes they don't quite see the person behind the problem. Nurses and nurse
practitioners have a more holistic view of patients. It's not just ‘a diabetic.’ It’s Ms.
Jones who has two kids, is overweight, is fighting for her check every month, and is a
diabetic. With low literacy patients, that approach can make a big difference in their
health outcomes.” ◼
ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL
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