Dr. Genelle Lamont

So certainly part of it, as I had mentioned, is if we can incorporate that health literacy into health education curricula early on during K through 12, But for now, I think the focus should be around making organizations more health literate and also providing that education and training for providers.

So certainly part of it, as I had mentioned, is if we can incorporate that health literacy into health education curricula early on during K through 12, But for now, I think the focus should be around making organizations more health literate and also providing that education and training for providers.

Now, I can tell you right now, at least in Minnesota, the patient education departments and a lot of the healthcare systems are usually manned by just a handful of employees. And that is their job specifically to develop and write health education materials that are in plain language and are health literate and provide that to patients. But another part of their role is provider training.

Now, I can tell you right now, at least in Minnesota, the patient education departments and a lot of the healthcare systems are usually manned by just a handful of employees. And that is their job specifically to develop and write health education materials that are in plain language and are health literate and provide that to patients. But another part of their role is provider training.

But because they're such a small group and once you get out and you're past that medical education, you don't have a lot of time to spend on training, even if continuing education credits are provided. So again, another systems level approach would be if we could provide health literacy as a standard part of medical and professional school education.

But because they're such a small group and once you get out and you're past that medical education, you don't have a lot of time to spend on training, even if continuing education credits are provided. So again, another systems level approach would be if we could provide health literacy as a standard part of medical and professional school education.

But with that said, if we can do a better job to make opportunities for those that are currently working in the field to get that training, I think the better off we'll be and to encourage them to consistently use those skills that they acquire during their training. So one

But with that said, if we can do a better job to make opportunities for those that are currently working in the field to get that training, I think the better off we'll be and to encourage them to consistently use those skills that they acquire during their training. So one

important piece of that, not only teaching folks how to go back to the basics and use plain language instead of their medical jargon, another powerful tool, but yet a real simple one is called the teach back or the show me method. So that's when you're all done with your visit.

important piece of that, not only teaching folks how to go back to the basics and use plain language instead of their medical jargon, another powerful tool, but yet a real simple one is called the teach back or the show me method. So that's when you're all done with your visit.

And let's say you've shown someone, for example, how to use their inhaler at the end of that visit, you want to say to that patient, Okay, I just want to do a double check and make sure that I've explained things as clearly as I could. Could you show me when you go home how you're going to use that inhaler? And then the patient will then show you exactly how they would use that inhaler.

And let's say you've shown someone, for example, how to use their inhaler at the end of that visit, you want to say to that patient, Okay, I just want to do a double check and make sure that I've explained things as clearly as I could. Could you show me when you go home how you're going to use that inhaler? And then the patient will then show you exactly how they would use that inhaler.

And that way, if they're not doing it right, you can make the correction then. And that way you would be certain that when that patient goes home, they're going to be using their medication correctly or they'll be able to follow your instructions. to it to you?

And that way, if they're not doing it right, you can make the correction then. And that way you would be certain that when that patient goes home, they're going to be using their medication correctly or they'll be able to follow your instructions. to it to you?

Correct. Yeah, that's a great question. So unfortunately, there's only been real small numbers of studies that have been done in health economics to look at the association between folks having lower health literacy or the system not addressing health literacy for those folks, and then the resulting healthcare costs.

Correct. Yeah, that's a great question. So unfortunately, there's only been real small numbers of studies that have been done in health economics to look at the association between folks having lower health literacy or the system not addressing health literacy for those folks, and then the resulting healthcare costs.

One study that gets cited often, Vernon 2007, which has been updated for more recent numbers, suggests as high as $938 billion in waste is spent because of unnecessary hospitalizations. not going in for prevention and all the other issues that we've already discussed.

One study that gets cited often, Vernon 2007, which has been updated for more recent numbers, suggests as high as $938 billion in waste is spent because of unnecessary hospitalizations. not going in for prevention and all the other issues that we've already discussed.

But certainly more money needs to be put into research on health literacy so we can get more precise estimates.

But certainly more money needs to be put into research on health literacy so we can get more precise estimates.