The Importance of Health Literacy

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The issue
How it was handled as well as its outcome
Discussion of how healthcare leaders would deal with the issue
Analysis of ethics and ethical responsibilities of health care
Conclusion
Reference list

Introduction

Health care issues are quite critical. In fact, they intensify when poor policies are formulated to curb them. Several issues arise in hospitals. These occur because hospitals bring together people from various cultures and disciplines. Leadership is therefore essential to health care settings in fostering unity and purpose. This ensures that everyone works for the benefit of the patient. Moreover, it harnesses harmony and concurrence between all stakeholders. The article singles out one common issue in healthcare settings all over the world. Health literacy is a very significant issue in healthcare settings. The article talks about poor health literacy, which affects most Americans (Borkowski, 2009, p. 55).

The issue

The article gives an example of an elderly woman who was sent home from the hospital with discharge instructions. However, she could not understand the warning signs indicated in the discharge form. This complicated her illness as she developed a life threatening infection. If she had followed the instructions, the complications would not have worsened. The article also talks of a man who is so perplexed at the intake form in the hospital that he decides to give a negative answer to all questions. This is because he does not understand the questions asked. Moreover, the article continues by mentioning a mother who perforates her baby’s eardrum out of misinterpretation of the doctor’s instructions concerning administration of drugs. This results in instant perforation of the baby’s eardrum. All these examples provided by patient advocates or health care workers points to a fundamental issue in health care service. In fact, this is an under-recognized issue in medicine that amounts to huge repercussions. Moreover, many patients have lost their lives because of misunderstanding discharge instructions (Boodman, 2011, p. 1).

In essence, health literacy is very important to all stakeholders in health care settings. This is mainly because it ensures that patients follow the right instructions for their own safety. Moreover, it ensures that the right individuals give instructions to patients and various health care workers. It is of essence to note that health care workers as well as patients come from different backgrounds. This brings about cultural barriers that affect health literacy. For instance, according to the article, only about 36% of American adults can deal with health materials effectively. In fact, they possess basic skills as well as below basic skills for dealing with such materials. This makes more people culpable to health literary associated risks. It is therefore very essential that health care officials as well as leaders handle this menace in the best manner practicable. It is also necessary to note that patients handle numerous chronic diseases that make it difficult for them to follow instructions effectively. This increases the chances of mistake from the literate bracket of Americans. In essence, health literacy is very significant and therefore requires participation form all departments involved. Moreover, the leadership in health care settings should ensure that factors influencing health care literacy are fostered to mitigate on its repercussions.

How it was handled as well as its outcome

Health literacy brings about tragic and unexpected results. For instance, in the case of the elderly woman, she was admitted for a life threatening illness. However, this time she realized the cause of her renewed illness. For the young mother who perforated her baby’s eardrum, there was no way back, as she had made the mistake. Similarly, in the case of a young man who gave erroneous answers to the doctor, wrong prescriptions were made and hence unknown disease treated. In general, the outcome was distasteful since most of the patients incurred increased costs on their health. Fortunately, this created awareness on the issue, which prompted health care workers to provide written as well as interpretation of instructions for patients. This resulted in reduced occurrences of recurring illnesses. Nonetheless, more needs to be done in order to help mitigate risks associated with health literacy.

Discussion of how healthcare leaders would deal with the issue

Health care leaders are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring smooth running of such facilities. This encompasses both direct and indirect supervision of activities in the health care settings within their jurisdiction. Handling health literacy has been ignored in most health care settings since most patients are believed to be literate. Moreover, they are usually taken to be so serious about their condition that they would never compromise on the given instructions. However, this is only true in theory since research has established that most patients are poor in taking drugs. Therefore, as a leader of health care settings, one needs to first accept these challenges that patients face with regards to health literacy. In this regards, a health care leader should formulate policies that would strengthen health literacy. This includes creating of awareness on the issue. This would enlighten patients and the public at large of the significance of health literacy.

Moreover, other issues such as communication barrier, which may arise from cultural differences, should be bridged to ensure that instructions are delivered as intended. If practicable, then health care leaders should interpret medical instructions to patients before giving them for further use. This would help in minimizing cases of misunderstanding as seen in the young man’s case as well as the young woman that perforated her baby’s eardrum. It is also essential that healthcare leaders address cultural barriers when giving instructions as this may help in diffusing common mistakes that may jeopardies health literacy. In addition, the leaders should make follow ups or arrange on how follow ups can be made with patients to ensure that drugs are taken as provided for in the instructions. This will work to minimize occurrences of such issues in health care settings. Moreover, it will add to unity and a sense of responsibility for patients within and outside health care settings.

Analysis of ethics and ethical responsibilities of health care

Professional ethics is essential in health care settings. This is because it ensures integrity in service delivery. This helps to assure both the patient and care giver of ethical responsibility and trust. Moreover, it cushions the relationship between the patient and practitioner. In this regard, health practitioners have codes of ethics that are also known as codes of professional conduct. These are drafted in line with health care work and are utilized to promote high integrity and value of ethics for patients. It also ensures that health care professionals uphold acceptable behavior. It is therefore quite essential that ethical analysis be done to improve service delivery. Several ethical issues have arisen concerning managers’ authority in health care settings. This is mainly because managers are known for their inclination to financial decisions instead of other aspects of the field. In this regard, their functions and responsibility as health authorities are highly questionable. This may jeopardize crucial health related decisions that would pose a threat to financial gain. It is therefore quite essential that ethical analysis be handled with utmost care to ensure that its intended goals are reached (Borkowski, 2009, p. 55).

Health managers are needed because they make things done. In fact, if clinicians had the capability of solving all their problems then health managers would be supplement to requirements. This is because most managers seem to be cursory to the needs of patients and instead look at financial aspects of the organization. Ethical responsibility is therefore necessary on the part of healthcare professionals to ensure that they make decisions that lead to the best outcomes. For instance, their capacity in disaster preparedness is essential in outlining their responsibilities. They are therefore required to devote resources and time to preparedness for emergencies and disasters, among others. The outcomes required include their familiarity with emergency operations and roles in such situations. They are also expected to consider situations that arise in collaboration with their peers as well as personally in reaching decisions such as resource allocation and other aspects of service delivery. In fact, developing guidelines for such occasions is significant in ensuring ethical responsibility (Porter-O’Grady, 2007, p. 113).

Conclusion

Health literacy is one of the most common issues in healthcare settings. However, it can be mitigated when health leaders ensure that instructions are backed with exquisite interpretation. Health care leaders are also expected to consider their duty to care when dealing with patients. In essence, ethical responsibility is essential in health care settings as it ensures that practitioners uphold acceptable behavior.

Reference list

Boodman, S. (2011). Many Americans have poor health literacy.The Washington Post. Web.

Borkowski, N. (2009). Organizational Behavior in Health Care. Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Porter-O’Grady, T., & Malloch, K. (2007). Quantum Leadership: A resource for Health Care Innovation. Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

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