Health in Plain Terms

Tools for Consumers

Tools for Talking With Consumers

Local Resources

Health Literacy Research

Health in Plain Terms

“Health literacy is a stronger predictor of an individual’s health status than income, employment status, education level, and racial or ethnic group”

--American Medical Association

Increasingly, patients and other consumers are being asked to take a more active role in their own and their families' health and health care. At the same time, more than 90 million Americans–nearly half the U.S. adult population–lack the ability to find or understand the information they need to make good decisions about their health. (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)

Below are links to resources to help consumers get the health information they need and to help doctors and other providers talk about health in terms that make sense to their patients.

Tools for Consumers

Health Basics in Plain Terms

Health Basics in Different Languages

Talking With Your Doctor

Tools for Talking With Consumers

Clear Communication

Talking With Patients

Health Literacy Training Resources and Materials

Local Resources

Health Literacy Reports and Research