Health Literacy is more than reading.  It includes listening, speaking, writing, math skills, and reading. Ideally, healthcare providers use these skills to clearly inform patients and patients use these skills to understand and participate in healthcare choices.

Almost 90% of Americans need at least some help understanding health information. People from all age groups, language groups, races, socio-economic statuses, and educational backgrounds can need help communicating about health at one-time-or-another. Healthcare personnel and organizations need health literacy skills to make communication about health easier for everyone.