2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I am a physician who sees the impact that limited literacy has on patients, families, and communities on a daily basis. With 43% of US adults testing at the basic or below basic reading level on the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, one would think that the healthcare sector would be moving quickly to try to address a low "health literacy" epidemic that is estimated to add $73 billion in excess health care spending. While there is a growing movement to educate healthcare personnel about this issue, low "health literacy" remains a truly hidden epidemic in the healthcare sector. With renewed interest in reforming healthcare, we need to look to improving the literacy skills of the population, beginning in Kindergarten.

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
view in context