Health 101
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Tishia Humes with HHS HealthBeat. Class is in session! HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says only about one in 10 Americans is health literate. So it looks like lots of us can be better educated about our health. We can start with learning about health topics, and keeping up with our medical histories. If you have difficulty understanding medical information explained by your doctor or nurse, AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn Clancy says: “Let her know she’s not being clear. Ask questions until you understand -- even if your doctor or nurse seems in a rush.” (7 seconds) When we can: - Weigh the risks and benefits of different treatments
- Understand full medical instructions, including how to take medicine
- Complete complex medical forms
That’s a good sign of health literacy. And because it’s so important for our health, it’s worth getting an A! Learn more at hhs.gov. HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Tishia Humes. Last revised: July, 08 2008 | 
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