Beyond the Institute of Medicine Health Literacy Report: Are the Recommendations Being Taken Seriously?

• Authors: Ruth M Parker, Emory University; David A Kindig, University of Wisconsin at Madison
• Journal Title: Journal of General Internal Medicine
• Volume: Volume 21, Number 8
• Publisher: Blackwell Science Inc | 2006-08, Pages 891-892
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00541.x
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

This issue indicates that a substantial amount of work is underway by serious investigators on a variety of health literacy topics. Our purpose in this editorial is to place this work in the context of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2004 Health Literacy report, which we were privileged to help create. We will conclude that while progress is being made, the scope is not broad enough and the pace not fast enough to make the progress that is necessary. In the words of the report, “efforts to improve quality, reduce costs, and reduce disparities cannot succeed without simultaneous improvements in health literacy."