Make Health Literacy a Priority to Improve Outcomes, Cut Costs

[nursedotcom]

A patient who doesn't receive clear instructions for taking his medications when he leaves the hospital could wind up right back in the facility with negative outcomes and increased healthcare costs. That's why the American Nurses Association has made improving patients' health literacy a priority with its House of Delegates report, "Addressing Health Literacy Through Patient Literacy."

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[amygarside]

Nurses and medical practitioners should have the duty to inform patients of their medications. Kudos to the American Nurses Association.

[parker89]

Thanks very much.

Nurses and medical practitioners should have the duty to inform patients of their medications. Kudos to the American Nurses Association.

[oldntiredRN]

RN's need to have the time to do this education. It can't be done with the short staffing level and all the hotel style custome satisfation tactics. Hotels have the time to do all this smiling and thanking, they don't give medication education. The customer satisfaction in nursing and healthcare comes from competentently and accurately addressing the health care needs of the patient-giving them the self care information about their disease process and health promotion stradegies to keep them out of the hospital not hoping they had a wonderful stay ," ya' all come back now, here". We look like and sound like the Ellimae Clampets on the Beverly Hillbillies!!and are supposed to have the same demeanor.

[ianursing22]

This is so true, not just in the US but in other health care setting in the world. But based on my experience, not all patients are given enough instructions upon discharge from the hospital ( this is particularly true in the public/government hospitals in our setting and this might be due to short staffing). Hopefully, more nurses could eye on this issue!

[amygarside]

This is so true, not just in the US but in other health care setting in the world. But based on my experience, not all patients are given enough instructions upon discharge from the hospital ( this is particularly true in the public/government hospitals in our setting and this might be due to short staffing). Hopefully, more nurses could eye on this issue!

I do believe that as nurses it is our duty to make sure that the patients will be given complete instruction on how to take their medicines. We take care of the patients even when they are already outside of the hospital.

[Nirma]

I think a patient who doesn't receive clear instructions for taking his medications when he leaves the hospital could wind up right back in the facility with negative outcomes and increased healthcare costs. So, it need s to make proper awareness to people about health care and medication.

[ciprian21]

agree with you nirma..but in some cases they dont respect the instructions..... and thats way the wind up right back...

[michfr]

ciprian21, isn't that the minority? I think most patients who have a good understanding of the English language and understand the instructions do follow it to the best of their ability.