October Is Health Literacy Month!

By Barrett White

Health literacy refers to someone’s ability to find, understand, and use information and services related to their health care.

Health Literacy Month is a time for health care providers to recognize the importance of making health information easy to understand and the health care system easier to navigate. One way that health literacy is being addressed is with the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, which aims to make health care more accessible to all by engaging everyone involved: organizations, professionals, policymakers, communities, individuals, and families.

According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, approximately 80 million adults in the United States are estimated to have limited or low health literacy.

Health literacy at an early age is another way to drive healthy change in this space. Legacy’s TeenWell program does just that. Legacy TeenWell is all about providing teens and young adults with the information, resources and answers that they need to take an active role in their own health care, in a way that’s comfortable and nonjudgmental.

With resources available for teens and young adults on topics ranging from money to mental health to physical wellness – and much more – TeenWell works to make health literate youngsters who grow up to be health literate adults.

Are you unsure about how it all works? You’re definitely not alone. Visit some of the links provided here or make an appointment to speak with your Legacy provider today.

 

To schedule an HIV test with your Legacy provider, visit us online or call (832) 548-5000. More information on TeenWell can be found here.