# Health Literacy * **Definition:** The ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. * **Taxonomy:** Healthcare Topics / Health Literacy ## News * Selected news on the topic of **Health Literacy**, for healthcare technology leaders * 2.3K news items are in the system for this topic * Posts have been filtered for tech and healthcare-related keywords | Date | Title | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 5/26/2025 | [**Addressing Health Literacy**](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2832542) | [[JAMA Network]] | | 4/10/2025 | [**How HHS Budget Cuts And Vaccine Hesitancy Threaten Clinical Trial Operations**](https://www.clinicalleader.com/doc/how-hhs-budget-cuts-and-vaccine-hesitancy-threaten-clinical-trial-operations-and-what-leaders-can-do-0001) | [[Clinical Leader]] | | 4/10/2025 | [**How HHS Budget Cuts And Vaccine Hesitancy Threaten Clinical Trial Operations**](http://www.clinicalleader.com/doc/how-hhs-budget-cuts-and-vaccine-hesitancy-threaten-clinical-trial-operations-and-what-leaders-can-do-0001) | [[Clinical Leader]] | | 4/9/2025 | [**Artificial Intelligence - Healthcare IT News**](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/taxonomy/term/7341/m89gsv6dzcjz.jsp%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%27%22/%27/%22/page/32?type=video) | [[Healthcare IT News]] | | 4/7/2025 | [**Creating technology 'champions' with digital literacy education for staff - Healthcare IT News**](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/video/creating-technology-champions-digital-literacy-education-staff) | [[Healthcare IT News]] | | 4/2/2025 | [**Mental Health Literacy Education**](https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/disaster-by-choice/202504/mental-health-literacy-education) | [[Psychology Today]] | | 3/12/2025 | [**Artificial Intelligence - Healthcare IT News**](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/taxonomy/term/7341/m89gsv6dzcjz.jsp%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BD%27%22/%27/%22/page/7?type=video) | [[Healthcare IT News]] | | 2/17/2025 | [**How AI Is Reshaping Healthcare for Patients & Providers - HIT Consultant**](https://hitconsultant.net/2025/02/17/how-ai-is-reshaping-healthcare-for-patients-providers/) | [[HIT Consultant]] | | 1/10/2025 | [**Things to Know All in Lists of Five**](https://www.healthitanswers.net/things-to-know-all-in-lists-of-five/) | [[Health IT Answers]] | | 12/5/2024 | [**Birdsong Health Literacy Center of Excellence Launched to Advance Health ... - Yahoo Finance**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/birdsong-health-literacy-center-excellence-191500498.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 12/5/2024 | [**Birdsong Health Literacy Center of Excellence Launched to Advance Health Literacy and Drive Economic Prosperity**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/950938msn/birdsong-health-literacy-center-of-excellence-launched-to-advance-health-literacy-and-drive-economic-prosperity) | [[Morningstar]] | | 12/4/2024 | [**'Value-Based Care Can't Be A Side Hustle' - How Advocate Health Saved $135M**](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cfo/%E2%80%98value-based-care-can%E2%80%99t-be-side-hustle%E2%80%99-%E2%80%94-how-advocate-health-saved-135m) | [[HealthLeaders Media]] | | 11/27/2024 | [**Patient Engagement Technology Market to grow by USD 37.41 Billion from 2024-2028 ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patient-engagement-technology-market-to-grow-by-usd-37-41-billion-from-2024-2028--driven-by-rising-chronic-disease-cases-and-ais-impact-on-market-trends---technavio-302316647.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 10/31/2024 | [**Pharmacists Can Directly Improve Health Literacy**](https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/pharmacists-can-directly-improve-health-literacy) | [[Pharmacy Times]] | | 10/11/2024 | [**Health Literacy Challenges Increase Costs, Client Concerns**](https://homehealthcarenews.com/2024/10/health-literacy-challenges-increase-costs-client-concerns/) | [[Home Health Care News]] | | 9/16/2024 | [**Patient Engagement Tech Market to Grow by USD 37.4 Billion (2024-2028) with Chronic Disease Rise, AI's Influence on Market Trends - Technavio Report**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/patient-engagement-tech-market-grow-212000314.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 9/16/2024 | [**Patient Engagement Tech Market to Grow by USD 37.4 Billion (2024-2028) with Chronic ...**](https://www.lelezard.com/en/news-21526260.html) | lelezard.com | | 9/12/2024 | [**Patient Engagement Challenges in Healthcare - MedTech Outlook**](https://www.medicaltechoutlook.com/news/patient-engagement-challenges-in-healthcare-nwid-3643.html) | medicaltechoutlook.com | | 9/11/2024 | [**Global Patient Engagement Solutions Market Innovations Investigated by Share and Analysis 2024**](https://www.whatech.com/og/markets-research/it/879097-global-patient-engagement-solutions-market-share-and-analysis-2024.html) | whatech.com | | 9/4/2024 | [**The Patient Engagement Solutions Market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of 13-17 ...**](https://dailyinvestorhub.com/the-patient-engagement-solutions-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-robust-cagr-of-13-17-in-the-coming-years/) | dailyinvestorhub.com | | 9/3/2024 | [**Health Literacy Is Not a Multi-Language Insert - MedCity News**](https://medcitynews.com/2024/09/health-literacy-is-not-a-multi-language-insert/) | [[MedCity News]] | | 7/18/2024 | [**Why Universal Design in Health Systems Matters for Enhancing Health Outcomes - 4**](https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/07/18/why-universal-design-in-health-systems-matters-for-enhancing-health-outcomes-4/) | [[Perficient Healthcare]] | | 2/4/2024 | [**Screening for Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in Health Plans**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/screening-for-health-literacy-social-determinants-and-discrimination-in-health-plans) | [[AJMC]] | | 1/30/2023 | [**To boost outcomes, first unlock the power of health literacy**](https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/boost-outcomes-first-unlock-power-health-literacy) | [[AMA]] | | 3/9/2017 | [**How smartphones can actually be good for your health**](https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/10/smartphones-health-literacy/) | [[STAT]] | ## Topic Overview (Some LLM-derived content — please confirm with above primary sources) ### Key Players - **Mental Health Literacy Collaborative**: An organization promoting mental health literacy to overcome stigma and improve mental health outcomes. - **Advocate Health**: A healthcare system that emphasizes patient engagement and health literacy to improve care outcomes and reduce costs. - **Perelel**: Acquired LOOM to enhance health literacy for women in reproductive health and parenting. - **UHP (Urban Health Partnerships)**: Developed the Community Liaison Framework to enhance citizen-centered engagement and health literacy in communities. - **OnMed**: A tech-enabled health equity solution providing affordable healthcare services while promoting health literacy. - **AmeriHealth Caritas**: A managed care solution provider emphasizing the importance of health literacy for Medicaid members. - **Birdsong Health Literacy Center of Excellence**: An organization focused on promoting health literacy and community-based health education initiatives. - **Flo Health**: A leading women's health app that provides tailored health insights and community support, promoting health literacy among women. - **CAHE-RUC (Center for Advancing Health Equity in Rural and Underserved Communities)**: Focuses on addressing health disparities and improving health literacy in underserved populations. - **Fidelis Care**: A health insurance provider that supports rural health initiatives, including health literacy programs. - **Steer Health**: An AI-powered healthcare solutions provider recognized for enhancing patient engagement and health literacy. - **Sharecare**: A digital healthcare platform that provides interactive media solutions aimed at improving health literacy and patient-provider communication. - **Jumo Health**: A company focused on improving clinical trial outcomes through patient-centric educational solutions aimed at enhancing health literacy. - **FarmboxRx**: A company addressing social determinants of health by improving health literacy and access to nutritious food for healthcare members. - **Cleerly**: A leader in advanced cardiovascular imaging, utilizing AI to enhance health literacy in coronary care. ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **AHIP and health organizations**: Launching the Promoting Health Through Prevention campaign to increase awareness of preventive services and health literacy. - **HIMSS Nursing Informatics Task Force**: Hosting a webinar on Patient Engagement and Digital Health Literacy to enhance patient involvement in care. - **Healthier757 Initiative**: Supported by the Birdsong Health Literacy Center, this initiative offers free health education resources in Virginia. - **EdLogics**: Partnered with the Birdsong Health Literacy Center to engage residents through interactive health education tools. - **Penn State College of Medicine and Asian Health Coalition**: Collaborating to address health disparities and improve health literacy in rural and underserved communities. - **Perelel and LOOM**: The acquisition of LOOM by Perelel aims to improve women's health literacy by integrating educational resources. - **Falfurrias Management Partners and Jumo Health**: Investment aimed at improving health literacy to facilitate clinical trial enrollment and participant retention. - **Georgia Health Information Network**: Working on the Georgia Unity platform to improve health equity and outcomes in rural communities. - **FarmboxRx and Unite For HER**: This partnership aims to enhance women's health through nutrition and education, providing health literacy materials to participants. - **Banner|Aetna**: A health insurance collaboration focused on improving member outcomes and experiences in Arizona by combining local healthcare providers with health-plan expertise. - **FarmboxRx and Health Plans**: FarmboxRx partners with over 90 health plans to deliver food and enhance health literacy among underserved communities. - **OnMed and OYC Miami**: OnMed collaborates with OYC Miami to enhance healthcare access and promote health literacy in South Florida. - **Zing Health and Story Health**: Zing Health collaborates with Story Health to provide specialized care for at-risk Medicare members with cardiac conditions. - **KidsX**: Collaborates with member hospitals to refine startups' technologies focused on pediatric mental health. ### Innovations, Trends, and Initiatives - **Health Literacy Month**: October is recognized to emphasize the importance of accessible health information. - **Health Literacy Programs**: Initiatives like those from Literacy West NY aim to empower adults with knowledge for healthier living. - **National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy**: Outlines goals for providing accurate health information and fostering partnerships for policy changes. - **ABC Health Matters**: A literacy program in Canada aimed at improving health literacy through new workbooks and online resources. - **Digital Health Literacy Maturity Model**: Proposed to enhance staff training and inspire the adoption of new tools and cybersecurity practices in healthcare settings. - **AI and Health Literacy**: Advancements in AI and Large Language Models are being explored to improve health literacy by making medical information more accessible. - **Digital Health Readiness Screener**: A tool developed to assess digital health readiness, highlighting the importance of education and health literacy in telehealth engagement. - **Digital Health Solutions**: Health plans are inundated with proposals from digital health solutions aimed at improving health literacy and outcomes. - **Universal Design Principles**: Universal Design is being integrated into healthcare systems to create accessible environments that enhance health literacy. - **Digital Health Tools**: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital health tools, which are essential for improving health literacy and access. - **AI in Healthcare**: AI technologies are being utilized to enhance health literacy by providing tailored health education and improving accessibility. - **Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE)**: A framework developed to guide medical educators in teaching digital health skills, emphasizing the importance of health literacy. - **Patient Engagement Solutions**: Technologies like telehealth and mobile applications are being used to enhance patient engagement and health literacy. - **Large Language Models (LLMs)**: These models are being explored for their potential to provide personalized patient education, improving health literacy across diverse populations. - **Flo for Partners**: A recent initiative by Flo Health to educate users' partners about reproductive health, enhancing overall health literacy. - **Fidelis Care's Rural Health Grant Program**: Offering grants to healthcare providers to address barriers to healthcare access, including health literacy. - **Health Systems Science (HSS)**: A multidisciplinary field enhancing the rigor and relevance of medical research by exploring interactions among healthcare system components. - **Remote Monitoring Programs**: Implemented by UMass Memorial Health to reduce readmissions and improve health literacy among patients with chronic diseases. - **Patient Engagement Solutions Market Growth**: Projected to reach $42.78 billion by 2028, driven by remote monitoring and personalized medicine, with a focus on health literacy initiatives. ### Challenges and Concerns - **Health Literacy Gaps**: Despite access to health information, a significant percentage of adults lack sufficient health literacy, leading to poor health decisions. - **Health Literacy Barriers**: Limited health literacy can lead to poor health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. - **Health Literacy Disparities**: Low health literacy is linked to poorer health outcomes, particularly among marginalized communities, necessitating targeted interventions. - **Low Health Literacy**: A significant portion of the population struggles with health literacy, impacting their ability to make informed healthcare decisions. - **Low Health Literacy Rates**: Nearly nine out of ten adults in the U.S. struggle with health literacy, complicating their understanding of health coverage and navigation of the healthcare system. - **Health Inequity**: Limited health literacy is particularly detrimental to Medicaid members, affecting their health management and access to care. - **Access to Care**: Barriers such as transportation and food insecurity affect health literacy and access to healthcare services. - **Digital Divide**: The integration of digital health tools faces challenges related to health literacy and equitable access, particularly in diverse communities. - **Social Determinants of Health**: Challenges such as food deserts and socioeconomic barriers complicate access to healthcare and health literacy. - **Mental Health Literacy**: Despite the importance of mental health literacy, stigma and lack of education hinder discussions and treatment access. - **Antibiotic Misuse**: A study indicates that low health literacy contributes to unrealistic expectations for antibiotics among patients. - **Barriers to Telehealth**: Disparities in access and digital literacy can hinder patients from utilizing telehealth services effectively. - **Language Barriers**: Limited English proficiency affects access to healthcare, with 20% of the U.S. population facing significant barriers. - **Distrust in Healthcare**: Patients with long-term conditions often face distrust from medical professionals regarding their health knowledge, impacting their advocacy efforts. - **Medication Errors**: Over 1.5 million people in the U.S. are harmed by medication errors annually, highlighting the need for improved health literacy to enhance medication safety. - **Communication Barriers**: 'Medspeak' or medical jargon can hinder effective communication between clinicians and patients, emphasizing the need for clear communication strategies. - **Healthcare Inequities**: The need for remote care initiatives to address healthcare inequities and improve access to chronic disease management for underserved communities.