October is National Health Literacy month, which aims at increasing awareness and education about the importance of improving health literacy for both patients and healthcare providers.
Nearly 90% of adults struggle with health literacy, notes a National Institute of Health (NIH) report.1 On the surface, health literacy may sound as simple as reading symptoms and treatment options on the internet. However, that does not truly encompass its full meaning.
What is Health Literacy and How is it Impacting Patients Today?
Adequate health literacy is the ability to access, read, understand, and take action on health information presented – therefore allowing someone to make an informed decision about themselves or their loved one’s health.
Even people with high literacy can struggle with health literacy, especially when their mental and emotional state is impacted by a complex diagnosis.
Studies show that limited health literacy can lead to suboptimal patient outcomes, including:1,2
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- Increased hospital readmissions
- More emergency department visits
- Difficulty managing chronic diseases
- A higher likelihood of making medication errors
- Forgoing preventive services, such as flu shots and COVID-19 boosters
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How Rehabilitation Hospitals Can Improve Health Literacy for Patients
Hospitals and nursing staff play an important role in educating patients and the community on the services they provide to improve outcomes, reduce readmission risk and lower costs. Some areas of opportunity to improve health literacy in a rehabilitation hospital or unit include:
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- Maintaining consistent, clear communication from patient admission and diagnosis, all the way to discharge. By using plain language, explaining the treatment plan thoroughly, reviewing health materials and encouraging questions, hospitals can help patients feel more prepared for their post-acute stay and care goals.
- Tailored education that mirrors the current state of the patient’s health literacy journey. It is important to be considerate of cultural backgrounds, learning styles and more when explaining medications or rehab treatment plans, so having staff meet the patient where they are at in their understanding of complex healthcare jargon is critical for outcomes.
- Encouraging treatment participation so patients feel more in control of their progress and outcomes. When a patient feels involved in their own inpatient rehabilitation journey, the likelihood of improved outcomes and medication adherence increases as well.
- Prioritize regular health literacy training sessions for rehab nursing staff and other healthcare professionals so they can be equipped with the best resources to help their patients succeed during treatment and following discharge.
- Maintaining consistent, clear communication from patient admission and diagnosis, all the way to discharge. By using plain language, explaining the treatment plan thoroughly, reviewing health materials and encouraging questions, hospitals can help patients feel more prepared for their post-acute stay and care goals.
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Strengthening Health Literacy Through Partnership
Improving health literacy in the hospital setting can have lasting, positive impacts on patients and the larger community. However, location, staffing strains and current resources available to the hospital can hinder some organizations from taking the next step in elevating health literacy education.
Hospitals continue to find relief in a post-acute partner’s ability to supply expert guidance and access to resources that can help the hospital and its staff improve its current offerings while maintaining its focus on what matters most: the patient.
Through a joint venture or contract management partnership, rehabilitation hospitals can improve the way they deliver critical rehabilitation services. Health literacy plays a role in every part of a patient’s care journey, and having a rehabilitation expert helps to improve outcomes while reducing cost and increasing patient confidence in their health.
Contact us to learn how Lifepoint Rehabilitation can help your hospital improve patient care and outcomes through program optimization.
References:
- https://www.nnlm.gov/guides/intro-health-literacy
- https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/health-literacy
