HEALTH LITERACY GAP

WHEREAS, effective communication is a foundation for high-quality, patient-centered healthcare; and

WHEREAS, health literacy is defined as the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions; and

WHEREAS, low health literacy affects more than one-third of U.S. adults and is associated with numerous adverse health-related outcomes, according to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement; and

WHEREAS, health literacy principles are relevant during every clinical encounter and in every public health communication:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers will encourage the development of effective health literacy curricula for healthcare professionals.