National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy

Or more than 30 years, I’ve observed the difficulties many people face as they attempt to use our health care system. I’ve seen firsthand the inequities in health status and access to care and the outcomes that persist. My own experiences in treating patients, running a large government agency and overseeing academic research, have given me a unique perspective about the Nation’s health care and public health systems, and more importantly the need to make health literacy a public health priority. Quite simply, the responsibility is ours as health professionals to communicate in plain language. Without clear communication, we cannot expect people to adopt the healthy behaviors and recommendations that we…