Healthcare can get confusing, so knowing how to navigate your care journey is vital to health outcomes.  Many people, especially patients from underserved and historically marginalized communities, have low health literacy due to systemic barriers, medical trauma, age, and lack of insurance.

As a Community Health Center, NHC’s patient-centered approach to care prioritizes improving patient health literacy levels.

When we work with patients, we break down barriers to health literacy by connecting patients to insurance, providing whole-person care with integrated care teams, and educating patients on where and when to seek care.

This education helps patients feel confident in their healthcare decision-making.  When patients understand and can participate in the healthcare process, their health outcomes are more likely to improve.

The decisions people make every day, such as when to take medications and how often to schedule exams, impact health. Literacy and health are interconnected – low health literacy is often faulted for the under-utilization of services and improper medication use. We seek to educate and encourage patients to participate in their own care, empowering them to take control of their health.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) has made health literacy a central focus of its Healthy People 2023 initiative.  This initiative acknowledges the active role organizations play in addressing patient health literacy.

For over 20 years, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month to raise awareness of how organizations can work together to increase health literacy.  By working to improve health literacy, we can foster health equity and significantly improve access to care for those who need it most.