As a healthcare worker, Marilyn witnessed firsthand how literacy directly impacts individuals’ health and well-being.
Fat, flu, pill, allergic, jaundice, anemia, fatigue, directed, colitis, constipation, osteoporosis. These are the words in a screening tool called the REALM-R that healthcare workers use to screen for literacy. The results of this short screening tool help us to determine the best way to educate our patients on their post-surgery instructions, medications, sliding scale for diabetes management, and home care instructions. The first three words technically aren’t part of the score and are only there to make the individual more comfortable.
As a healthcare worker, it was hard to see how many of my patients couldn’t read the words on this scale, even the first three words. These are people that aren’t able to read the label on their medication bottle, post-op instructions, and red flags, when and where their appointments are. These are people that are at a higher risk of hospitalization and they need our help.
This was what inspired me to join Literacy Together in their efforts to help the literacy crisis in our community. I’ve seen the life-changing (and potentially life-saving) work that they do. There are multiple ways that you can help with this work, including serving as a volunteer tutor, supporting Literacy Together financially, and spreading awareness in Buncombe County for the need to help address the literacy crisis. Together, we can help keep our neighbors healthier and safer.
Marilyn Lindsley Cortes
Doctor of Physical Therapy
What’s health literacy?
With approximately 54% of American adults reading below a sixth-grade level, many face significant challenges related to health literacy, including:
Higher hospitalization rates: Individuals with low health literacy often rely on emergency departments for primary care, straining resources and increasing readmission rates within weeks.
Poor chronic condition management: Misunderstanding treatment plans can lead to complications in managing illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension, requiring additional time and effort from healthcare providers.
Limited preventive care: Low health literacy contributes to missed vaccinations and screenings, increasing health risks.
Increased costs: These issues result in an estimated $106–$238 billion annually in additional healthcare expenses.
Literacy breaks down barriers to understanding and fosters health equity across communities.
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Sources: Proliteracy.org and The Policy Circle.
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