Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use information to make informed health decisions. It is one of the strongest predictors of patient outcomes. Nearly nine in ten adults in the U.S. face challenges with health information, and even highly educated patients may struggle in moments of stress or illness. For providers, this means clear communication is not optional; it is essential. The way information is delivered often determines whether patients can follow through with care, avoid preventable complications, and feel confident managing their health.
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5 strategies to address health literacy
1. Assume every patient may need support
Health literacy challenges are often invisible, and stress makes comprehension harder for everyone. By making clear communication the default, providers can ensure that no one is left behind. This means using the same clarity regardless of a patient’s background or education, and treating every interaction as an opportunity to simplify, clarify, and support understanding.
2. Use plain, everyday language
Medical jargon, abbreviations, and complex phrasing overwhelm patients and create barriers to care. Plain language ensures that information is both accessible and actionable. Replacing jargon with familiar words, defining acronyms on first use, and giving short, direct instructions helps patients focus on what they need to do and why. Healthcare providers also carry responsibility here: recognizing when stress or anxiety may lower comprehension, adapting their communication style, and normalizing questions can make patients more confident and capable of following through.
3. Check for understanding
Simply asking “Do you understand?” rarely uncovers whether a patient has fully absorbed the information. More active approaches, like the teach-back method, allow providers to confirm comprehension while reinforcing key steps. Asking patients to explain instructions in their own words, or demonstrate a skill such as using an inhaler, helps identify gaps and corrects misunderstandings in a supportive way.
4. Offer multiple ways to learn
Patients often remember only part of what they hear during an appointment, and stress reduces recall even further. Reinforcing information through multiple channels increases understanding and retention. Pairing verbal instructions with short written or visual aids, highlighting two or three essential “need-to-know” points, and offering digital or printed resources ensures that patients can review and apply what they learned in a way that works best for them.
5. Normalize questions
Many patients hesitate to ask questions because they feel embarrassed or believe they should already know the answers. Normalizing questions creates a safer space for dialogue and shared decision-making. Providers can use inclusive phrases such as, “Many people ask about this — what would you like me to review?” and pause to give patients time to respond. Reassuring patients that questions are expected helps reduce anxiety and strengthens engagement in their own care.
Clear communication improves care and safety
Integrating health literacy into daily practice helps providers improve comprehension, strengthen patient trust, and deliver safer, more effective care. These improvements also align with the quality goals emphasized by organizations such as NCQA and the Joint Commission, keeping patient communication at the center of standards for excellence. By prioritizing health literacy, providers can reduce preventable errors, lower readmissions, and ensure consistent compliance with evolving quality measures.
Download our free Health Literacy Checklist to put these strategies into action.
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