CATALYST
Literacy:
The Critical
Link to Health
BEHIND THE DATA
•
Imagine. . .
Joye, a single parent with three children, arrives at a free medical clinic. She makes
excuses about completing the patient information form asking if she can just tell the
receptionist her information. (Elbert County , GA)
• An ER nurse asks Roscoe, 65, if he is taking his high blood pressure medication. He tells
her he didn’t know he had to take it every day. The nurse explains that may be one
reason for his apparent stroke. (Hancock County, GA)
• After her son’s physical, Sandra, a high school dropout, doesn’t understand the terms the
doctor is using to describe why her son needs to take a specific medication every day.
She leaves the office without asking any questions. (Early County, GA)
Health Literacy is. . .
the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and
understand basic health information and services needed to make
appropriate health decisions for themselves and their families.
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HEALTHCARE GEORGIA FOUNDATION