1

Enhancing Care Coordination for Health Literacy

Student Name

Course Details

School

Lecturer

Date Submitted
 2

Enhancing Care Coordination for Health Literacy

Effective care coordination is crucial in addressing health literacy, a significant

healthcare problem. Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to understand and utilize

health information to make informed decisions about their health (Liu et al., 2020). This

assessment aims to evaluate and enhance a preliminary care coordination plan for individuals

with low health literacy, utilizing best practices identified in the literature. By integrating

evidence-based communication, teaching, and learning strategies and considering ethical

considerations and relevant health policies, the care coordination plan can effectively address the

unique needs of health-illiterate individuals and promote improved health outcomes.

Patient-Centered Health Interventions for Addressing Health Literacy

To address health literacy, developing and disseminating plain language materials that

use clear and concise language to explain common health concepts, medical conditions, and

treatment options is essential. Within the next three months, the focus should be on creating

easy-to-understand brochures, pamphlets, and online resources. Continuously updating and

expanding these resources as needed will ensure their relevance and effectiveness. Collaborating

with local literacy organizations, community health centers, and libraries is crucial for the

widespread distribution and accessibility of these plain language materials in community

settings. By working together, we can make health information more understandable and

empower individuals with low health literacy to make informed decisions about their health.

To address health literacy challenges, it is crucial to incorporate health literacy screening

tools into routine healthcare assessments to identify patients with low health literacy. Over the

next year, the focus should be on integrating these screening tools into routine assessments.
 3

Additionally, establishing support services such as patient navigators, health coaches, or

community health workers is essential to providing personalized guidance, assisting with

appointment scheduling, and helping individuals understand and follow healthcare instructions.

Collaboration with community health organizations and social service agencies is necessary to

identify patients in need and connect them with specialized resources. By working together, we

can ensure that individuals with low health literacy receive the support they need to navigate the

healthcare system effectively and make informed decisions about their health (Glantz &

Bareham, 2018).

To promote health literacy, it is essential to conduct interactive educational sessions that

utilize visual aids, demonstrations, and interactive activities to enhance understanding and

engagement. These sessions should cover medication management, preventive care, chronic

disease management, and navigating healthcare systems. Initiating these interactive educational

sessions within the next six months and offering them regularly, such as monthly or quarterly,

will ensure consistent access to valuable health information. Collaborating with community

organizations, senior centers, and local clinics is essential for hosting these sessions, promoting

attendance among individuals with low health literacy, and fostering a supportive and inclusive

learning environment (Meherali et al., 2020).

Ethical Considerations for Patient-Centered Interventions

When designing patient-centered health interventions, making insightful ethical decisions

prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of the individuals involved is crucial. These decisions

should be supported by existing literature on ethical considerations in healthcare interventions.

 4

One ethical consideration is informed consent. It is essential to ensure that individuals

clearly understand the intervention, its potential benefits and risks, and their right to participate

or decline. Informed consent should be obtained to respect the individual's autonomy and ability

to make decisions based on accurate and understandable information (Glaser et al., 2020).

Another important ethical consideration is confidentiality and privacy. Patient-centered

interventions often involve collecting and sharing personal health information. Maintaining strict

confidentiality and privacy protections and adhering to legal and ethical standards to safeguard

patient data is crucial. Ensuring that individuals understand how their information will be used

and protected is vital for building trust and maintaining ethical standards (Vanderhout et al.,

2023).

Equity and fairness should also be central to the design of patient-centered interventions.

It is essential to consider the potential impact of interventions on individuals from diverse

backgrounds, ensuring that access to resources and support is equitable. Addressing health

disparities and promoting inclusivity should be prioritized to avoid exacerbating existing

inequities and to ensure that interventions reach and benefit all individuals, regardless of

socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or other factors (María Feijoo-Cid et al., 2023).

Furthermore, transparency and accountability are critical ethical principles.

Communicating interventions' goals, methods, and outcomes to patients and stakeholders fosters

trust and enables individuals to make informed decisions about their participation. Transparent

reporting of results, including positive and negative outcomes, contributes to advancing

knowledge and best practices in patient-centered care.

Health Policy Implications

 5

Health policy implications for addressing health literacy involve policy provisions that

promote health education, access to understandable health information, and support for

individuals with low health literacy. Precise and accurate interpretations of relevant policy

provisions can guide the development of effective strategies to improve health literacy (Sentell et

al., 2020).

One policy implication is the incorporation of health literacy standards into healthcare

regulations. Accurate interpretations of policy provisions emphasize the importance of

developing and implementing standards that require healthcare providers to communicate health

information clearly and understandably. This can lead to policies that mandate the use of plain

language in patient education materials, informed consent documents, and medication labels

(Santana et al., 2021).

Another implication is the integration of health literacy into healthcare professional

training and education. Precise interpretations of policy provisions highlight the need for

healthcare professionals to have the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with

individuals with low health literacy. This can lead to policies incorporating health literacy

training into medical, nursing, and other healthcare professional curricula, ensuring that

providers can communicate clearly and engage patients in their care (Saunders et al., 2019).

Policy provisions may also address health literacy in the context of health insurance and

access to care. Accurate interpretations can underscore the importance of ensuring that health

insurance information, coverage options, and healthcare navigation resources are understandable

and accessible to individuals with low health literacy. This can lead to policies that require health

insurance plans to provide plain-language explanations of benefits, coverage options, and

appeals processes (Smith & Magnani, 2019).

 6

Furthermore, policy implications may focus on community-based interventions and

partnerships to address health literacy. Precise interpretations can highlight the need for policies

that support collaborations between healthcare organizations, community-based organizations,

and literacy programs to develop and disseminate plain language materials and provide health

literacy support services. This can lead to policies that allocate funding and resources to support

community-based health literacy initiatives and promote cross-sector collaborations.

By considering these policy implications and implementing strategies based on precise

and accurate interpretations of relevant policy provisions, policymakers can create an

environment that supports and promotes health literacy. These policies can enhance

communication, improve access to understandable health information, and empower individuals

with low health literacy to make informed decisions about their health and navigate the

healthcare system effectively.

Priorities in Discussing the Care Plan and Evidence-Based Changes with Patients

and Family Members

The care coordinator would prioritize assessing the health literacy levels of the patient

and their family member. This may involve using validated screening tools or conducting

conversations to gauge their understanding of health information. Understanding their health

literacy skills helps tailor communication and education strategies accordingly (Bau et al., 2019).

Based on assessing health literacy levels, the care coordinator would prioritize

simplifying health information to ensure it is easily understood. This involves using plain

language, visual aids, and other accessible resources to convey important health messages,

treatment plans, medication instructions, and other relevant information (Parnell et al., 2019).
 7

The care coordinator would encourage active engagement and participation from the

patient and their family member in their care plan. This includes creating opportunities for them

to ask questions, voice concerns, and express their preferences. The care coordinator can foster a

collaborative and patient-centered approach by involving them in decision-making.

Recognizing the need for additional support, the care coordinator would prioritize

providing health literacy support services. This may involve connecting the patient and their

family member with patient navigators, health coaches, or community health workers with

expertise in addressing health literacy challenges. These individuals can provide personalized

guidance, assist with appointment scheduling, and help individuals understand and follow

healthcare instructions.

Throughout the care process, the coordinator would continuously assess the patient and

their family member's understanding of health information and adjust communication strategies

as needed. This ensures that the information provided is effectively received and comprehended

and that any barriers to understanding are promptly addressed.

Comparing Learning Session Content to Best Practices and Healthy People 2030

An evaluation-based approach can guide the comparison and identification of necessary

revisions to ensure practical teaching sessions that align with best practices and the Healthy

People 2030 document.

By evaluating the learning session content against best practices, such as evidence-based

instructional strategies, interactive engagement, and learner-centered approaches, any

misalignments or areas for improvement can be identified.

 8

Furthermore, aligning teaching sessions with the goals and objectives outlined in the

Healthy People 2030 document is crucial. This involves reviewing the content to ensure it

addresses relevant health priorities, targets specific populations, and incorporates evidence-based

interventions and strategies supported by the document.

Clear explanations of the need for revisions may arise from identifying gaps or

discrepancies between the learning session content and best practices or Healthy People 2030.

Revisions may be necessary to enhance the relevance, accuracy, and effectiveness of the

teaching sessions, ultimately improving learners' acquisition of knowledge and skills and

contributing to achieving the health objectives outlined in the Healthy People 2030 agenda.

Conclusion

Enhancing care coordination for health literacy requires a comprehensive approach that

incorporates evidence-based strategies, considers ethical considerations, and aligns with relevant

health policies. By designing patient-centered interventions, establishing care coordination

priorities, and making evidence-based changes, healthcare providers can effectively address

health literacy and promote improved health outcomes. Moreover, by aligning teaching sessions

with best practices and Healthy People 2030, the care coordination plan can contribute to the

broader goal of creating a health-literate society. Through these efforts, healthcare providers can

empower individuals with low health literacy and foster a healthcare environment that promotes

understanding, informed decision-making, and improved health outcomes.

 9

References

Bau, I., Logan, R. A., Dezii, C., Rosof, B., Fernandez, A., Paasche-Orlow, M. K., & Wong, W.

W. (2019). Patient-Centered, Integrated Health Care Quality Measures Could Improve

Health Literacy, Language Access, and Cultural Competence. NAM Perspectives.

https://doi.org/10.31478/201902a

Glantz, S., & Bareham, D. (2018). E-Cigarettes: Use, Effects on Smoking, Risks, and Policy

Implications. Annu. Rev. Public Health, 39. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-

Glaser, J., Nouri, S., Fernandez, A., Sudore, R. L., Schillinger, D., Klein-Fedyshin, M., &

Schenker, Y. (2020). Interventions to Improve Patient Comprehension in Informed

Consent for Medical and Surgical Procedures: An Updated Systematic Review. Medical

Decision Making, 40(2), 0272989X1989634. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272989x19896348

Liu, C., Wang, D., Liu, C., Jiang, J., Wang, X., Chen, H., Ju, X., & Zhang, X. (2020). What Is

the Meaning of Health literacy? a Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis. Family

Medicine and Community Health, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2020-000351

María Feijoo-Cid, Antonia Arreciado Marañón, María Isabel Fernández ‐Cano, & García ‐Sierra,

R. (2023). Expert patients are leading activities on social justice towards patient-centered

education. Nursing Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330231217038

Meherali, S., Punjani, N. S., & Mevawala, A. (2020). Health Literacy Interventions to Improve

Health Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. HLRP: Health Literacy

Research and Practice, 4(4), e251–e266. https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20201118-01

 10

Parnell, T. A., Stichler, J. F., Barton, A. J., Loan, L. A., Boyle, D. K., & Allen, P. E. (2019). A

concept analysis of health literacy. Nursing Forum, 54(3), 315–327.

https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12331

Santana, S., Brach, C., Harris, L., Ochiai, E., Blakey, C., Bevington, F., Kleinman, D., & Pronk,

N. (2021). Updating Health Literacy for Healthy People 2030: Defining Its Importance

for a New Decade in Public Health. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice:

JPHMP, 27(6). https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000001324

Saunders, C., Palesy, D., & Lewis, J. (2019). Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework for

Health Literacy Training in Health Professions Education. Health Professions Education,

5(1), 13–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpe.2018.03.003

Sentell, T., Vamos, S., & Okan, O. (2020). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy

Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9), 3010.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093010

Smith, B., & Magnani, J. W. (2019). New technologies, new disparities: The intersection of

electronic health and digital health literacy. International Journal of Cardiology, 292(1),

280–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.05.066

Vanderhout, S., Potter, B. K., Smith, M., Butcher, N. J., Vaters, J., Chakraborty, P., Adams, J.,

Inbar-Feigenberg, M., Offringa, M., Speechley, K., Yannis Trakadis, & Ariella Binik.

(2023). Ethical and practical considerations related to data sharing when collecting

patient-reported outcomes in care-based child health research. Health Ethics.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-023-03393-2