Colleagues,

Here's an article by a doctor at the Boston Medical Center on health  
literacy:

http://www2.townonline.com/woburn/opinion/view.bg?articleid=540834

Although his advice seems sensible to me, Doctor Oates only very  
briefly acknowledges that some patients may not be able to read or  
write, and moves on to patient strategies to better understand  
doctors .  Is "health literacy" like "computer literacy," and  
"financial literacy" only a metaphor for "the need to learn about  
health"? Is  literacy (the ability to read and write) not really of  
concern to doctors, even in a healthcare context.  If so, the  
Institute of Medicine, and the AMA Foundation messages may need to re- 
focus on the _literacy_ issues in "health literacy" such why patients  
can't bring a list of questions, read prescriptions, communicate by e- 
mail, follow the written directions before certain kinds of  
appointments, read pamphlets, and read about privacy and other  
patient care policies, and what can be done about that.

What do others think?

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net