Health Literacy

 My topic for my Capstone project is Health Literacy. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using basic health information that is routinely available in health care facilities, retail outlets, media, and communities. Limited health literacy causes poorer health outcomes and higher health care costs. Low literacy, an aging population, popularity of chronic conditions, and a complicated health care system influence and magnify health disparities in the United States. Economics is the allocation of scarce resources. Health-related activities consume a large portion of economic resources of modern societies, such as the United States, in the production and distribution of health care. Health care comes at a price. It represents a major commitment of resources: time, energy, skill development, raw materials, and capital, which then become unavailable for other forms of production. Physical environment can affect one's ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. The illiteracy of basic health information causes major health problems. Efforts will be stimulated to make health literacy a component of training for health professionals. Awareness and assessment of health literacy will be made a part of provider systems and quality analysis. Improving health literacy is a tool for improving health and health care in America. It is both a process and an outcome. Creating a truly health-literate America is a challenge requiring leadership, strategy, cooperation, and most importantly, a democracy with citizens who are well informed. It may not be easy, but it is the right goal for health policy. I want to become a clinical lab technician, and I feel that this topic very much relates to my career because the patients sometimes do not understand their diagnosis and what problems they are facing medically. When they do not understand it slows their recovery down. This project gives back to the society because it really does raise awareness and allows people to ask for help. Health literacy is very important because if people make mindless mistakes in taking their prescription because they didn't understand how much or how to take it, it could easily cost them their lives.