The Institute of Medicine has released a report outlining 10 attributes of a health literate organization, defined as one that makes it easier for patients to understand and use health information.
The report was designed to help healthcare providers, including hospitals, health systems, physician groups and payors, understand how to foster health literacy among patients. The 10 attributes listed are as follows:
1. Has leadership that makes health literacy integral to its mission, structure and operations.
2. Integrates health literacy into planning, evaluation measures, patient safety and quality improvement.
3. Prepares the workforce to be health literate and monitors progress.
4. Includes populations served in the design, implementation and evaluation of health information and services.
5. Meets needs of populations with a range of health literacy skills while avoiding stigmatization.
6. Uses health literacy strategies in interpersonal communications and confirms understanding at all points of contact.
7. Provides easy access to health information and services and navigation assistance.
8. Designs and distributes print and audio/visual materials and social media content that is easy to understand and act on.
9. Addresses health literacy in high-risk situations, including care transitions and communications about medicines.
10. Communicates clearly what health plans cover and what individuals will have to pay for services.
To read the report "Attributes of a Health Literate Organization" in full, click here.
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The report was designed to help healthcare providers, including hospitals, health systems, physician groups and payors, understand how to foster health literacy among patients. The 10 attributes listed are as follows:
1. Has leadership that makes health literacy integral to its mission, structure and operations.
2. Integrates health literacy into planning, evaluation measures, patient safety and quality improvement.
3. Prepares the workforce to be health literate and monitors progress.
4. Includes populations served in the design, implementation and evaluation of health information and services.
5. Meets needs of populations with a range of health literacy skills while avoiding stigmatization.
6. Uses health literacy strategies in interpersonal communications and confirms understanding at all points of contact.
7. Provides easy access to health information and services and navigation assistance.
8. Designs and distributes print and audio/visual materials and social media content that is easy to understand and act on.
9. Addresses health literacy in high-risk situations, including care transitions and communications about medicines.
10. Communicates clearly what health plans cover and what individuals will have to pay for services.
To read the report "Attributes of a Health Literate Organization" in full, click here.
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