Health Literacy Month

October is Health Literacy Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the importance of health literacy. At careviso, we understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming for patients, especially when faced with unfamiliar terms, forms, and decisions that impact their well-being. That’s why improving health literacy is key to transforming patient care and outcomes.

What Is Health Literacy Month?

Health Literacy Month began in 1999 as a way to help people find, understand, and use information and services to improve their personal health. This initiative is supported by the Institute for Health Advancement. Learn more at HealthLiteracyMonth.org.

READ MORE: Men’s Health Month

When Is Health Literacy Month?

Health Literacy Month takes place every October. It is recognized by countries, individuals, and organizations around the world and used as an opportunity to promote the idea of health literacy among communities and organizations.

Why Health Literacy Matters

Health literacy is more than just understanding medical terms. It’s about empowering patients with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health. When patients understand their diagnoses, treatment options, and follow-up care, they’re more likely to engage in their own healthcare journey. This leads to better adherence to treatment plans, fewer hospitalizations, and ultimately, improved health outcomes.

READ MORE: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What to Do During Health Literacy Month

Individuals can recognize Health Literacy Month with ideas like:

• Asking your municipal government to light up a local landmark in blue and orange
• Running a social media campaign focused on educating people about health issues
• Hosting an event that connects medical practitioners with the local community to answer general healthcare questions

Healthcare professionals also play a vital role in fostering health literacy. By using clear, straightforward language and ensuring patients fully understand their care, providers can bridge the gap between complex medical information and patient understanding. Tools such as teach-back methods—where a patient repeats the information shared to confirm comprehension—can help solidify understanding.

During Health Literacy Month, healthcare professionals can support the initiative by:

• Promoting health literacy in professional and patient newsletters
• Holding seminars and webinars to educate other practitioners or the general public about health literacy
• Writing blog posts about the importance of health literacy and what it means for patients
• Having a lunch-and-learn to discuss health literacy with clinic staff

READ MORE: National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month

Health Literacy Resources

Health literacy is a topic that’s relevant all year. These resources are available to help you promote the concept of health literacy to patients and practitioners:

• HealthLiteracyMonth.org
• Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
• Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

At careviso, we support healthcare providers in reducing administrative burdens and improving patient access to care. Our solutions simplify prior authorizations and ensure clear, transparent communication between providers, payers, and patients. By streamlining these processes, we allow providers to spend more time focusing on what matters most: quality care and patient education.