Heath illiteracy is a major barrier to quality healthcare.

People need to be able to perform basic reading and number skills in order to make and carry our decisions affecting their health. These skills are referred to by the American Medical Association (AMA) as “health literacy”. One in seven Maine adults cannot read well enough to understand how to follow written directions from their doctor or understand medication amounts.

Individuals with marginal literacy skills:

  • are five times more likely to misinterpret a prescription
  • are 52% more likely to be hospitalized
  • have, on the the average, two or more health visits per year than those with adequate literacy skills.

Patients at the lowest literacy levels are responsible for:

  • $8-$15 billion a year in excess hospital costs,
  • $30 billion in direct care costs,
  • up to $100 billion in indirect costs.

Many adults are too embarrassed to ask for help, or bring family members who can later translate instructions after the visit with the healthcare provider.

In Maine, there are free services available to adults who need help reading. The Maine Adult Learning hotline is a free state-wide service for adults who want help with reading or who wish to participate in an adult education program.

Maine Adult Learning hotline 1-800-322-5455 or http://www.lvmaine.org/hotline.php

To learn more about health literacy:
Raising Readers | P.O. Box 17826 | Portland, Maine 04112 | Phone: 1-800-397-3263
Libra Foundation