For Consumers of Healthcare Services

Health literacy is the ability to read, understand and make use of basic medical information. Low health literacy can affect anyone of any age, ethnicity, background or educational level.  Although few are aware of it, low health literacy is one of the chief challenges to attaining better health outcomes and lowering healthcare costs in the United States.

The information on this page provides guides and other resources to assist patients in achieving more control over their health by improving their ability to communicate with their healthcare provider.

Understanding Healthcare Information
Understanding the often complex medical information your doctor or other caregivers give to you can be difficult, and the consequences of misunderstanding this information can be life threatening. A new campaign by the Joint Commission gives you the tools you need to better understand healthcare information. To find out more, click here: Understanding Your Caregivers

AHRQ Helps Patients Take Medications Safely
AHRQ's How to Create a Pill Card provides step-by-step instructions for making a pill card using a computer and printer. One in four Americans do not take prescription medicines as prescribed. Many people who fail to adhere to medication instructions do so because they do not understand how to take their medicines. Research has shown that using a pill card-which uses pictures and simple phrases to show each medicine, its purpose, how much to take, and when to take it, reduces misunderstandings. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/pillcard/pillcard.htm

Medicine Safety
Today’s medicines cure infectious diseases, prevent problems from chronic diseases, and alleviate pain and suffering for millions of Americans every day. But medicines can also cause harm, and adverse drug events cause over 700,000 emergency department visits each year. To learn more about who is at risk and ways to avoid medication errors, go to  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/medicationsafety.html

Health Literacy

Good Questions for Your Good Health

• English , Part 1 , Part 2
• Spanish
• French
• Chinese

Words to Watch

• English
• Spanish

What is Diabetes?

• English
• Spanish

Advance Directive for Health Care
As a competent adult, you have the right to refuse any medical or surgical treatment for yourself for any reason. The best way for you to be in control of your medical treatment is to record your wishes in advance. You can make legal valid decisions about future medical treatments through a Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care. Click here to learn more about this tool and planning for your final health care. English

Directiva Anticipada de Georgia referente a Atenci n Médica
Como una persona adulta y competente, usted tiene el derecho de rechazar por cualquier motivo todo tratamiento médico o quirúrgico ofrecido a usted. La major forma de tomar las riendas de su tratamiento medico es indicar por escrito y por adelantado sus preferencias. Por medio de una Directiva Anticipada de Georgia referente a Atención Médica, usted puede tomar decisions con validez de ley con respecto a cualesquier tratamientos médicos del futuro. Spanish

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