Three Ways to Strengthen Rural Health by Improving Health Literacy

October is National Health Literacy Month – an important reminder to reflect on our roles in helping every patient and consumer understand the health options before them. Whether you provide care or promote those who do, communicating in ways that are clear for everyone can make a very healthy difference.

Because healthcare options are typically limited in rural areas, navigating patients through disjointed care delivery across varying geographies, locations and providers needs even more emphasis. Rural health patients often have fewer convenient, community-based options for assistance in making informed health decisions. That means health literacy efforts are among the many challenges that intensify for rural health providers, who already do so much with such limited resources……