Medical Literacy: A Key Concern

The failures of the healthcare system tend to be blamed on a number of internal factors, but rarely are the users themselves blamed. Yet, a report issued by the Institute of Medicine released in 2004 indicates that almost half of all U.S. adults do not properly understand health information. That means that up to 90 million adults lack the information to protect their own well-being.

Studies show that the more knowledgeable patients are about health issues and information, the more likely they are to make better healthcare decisions, seek better care and ultimately extend their lives. Researchers at Northwestern University found that the medically literate population had half the mortality rate of individuals who were deemed medically “illiterate.”

This means that the huge population of healthcare-illiterate users is just as responsible for the healthcare system flaws because they do not make proper healthcare decisions. They do not demand better care, information, or education about their health.

So if only half of the country understands healthcare, and only those in great need drive how the system works, its no wonder “healthcare consumerism” seems like such a new and progressive idea.

The consequences of this growing illiteracy can’t be ignored anymore, especially at a time when most of us pay anywhere from a third to half of our healthcare costs. A new system that solves current problems will not work without some kind of user education. Healthcare literacy a concern for patients’ well being, yes, but it should be a financial concern for the entire industry as well.

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