End-of-Year Newsletter – December 2024 - Stay Safe and Build Healthier Futures with Us
As 2024 comes to a close, we hope this message finds you well and happy. Whether you're celebrating festivities or going about your daily business, we encourage you to prioritise your health and well-being. Small actions, like checking in with loved ones, taking moments to rest, or reflecting on what is important to you, can make a big difference. Stay safe, stay healthy, spread happiness, and know that brighter days lie ahead.
Health Literacy Now: A Growing Impact
This year marked an exciting milestone for us at Health Literacy Now as we officially launched 4 months ago in August 2024! Since then, we’ve already partnered with several forward-thinking organisations committed to improving patient outcomes through better health literacy. It’s been inspiring to see the positive changes that come when communication in healthcare truly connects.
Why Health Literacy Matters
Health literacy is about more than reading and simplifying words—it’s about numeracy, digital literacy, accessing and understanding complex health topics and acting on health information effectively. Low health literacy affects people from all walks of life and is directly linked to preventable health issues:
- Up to 90% of adults struggle to use and understand health information effectively at some point when accessing health information or services.
- Medication errors, the leading cause of preventable harm, are largely due to low health literacy and numeracy skills.
- Patients with low health literacy are twice as likely to face hospitalisation and have worse health outcomes.
As George Bernard Shaw reminds us, "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion it has taken place." This is especially true in the complex and fast-paced world of healthcare, where the combination of overwhelming information and organisational demands—particularly during stressful moments when anxiety and fear can impact a patient’s ability to understand—often disrupts clear and effective communication
Together, we can bridge this gap.
Our Services
Health Literacy Now offers tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of organisations striving for better communication and patient outcomes. You can review the services we provide at our website Services | Health Literacy Now. Whether you're looking to improve the clarity of patient information, train your team, creating or auditing existing materials, we're here to help. Depending on your needs you may like to engage in the following ways.
- Hourly Rate: Perfect for small projects or quick document reviews.
- Project Rate: Designed for larger tasks requiring up to 20 hours of focused attention.
- Retainer Services: For ongoing support, we offer blocks of 10 hours per month, ensuring you always have access to expert health literacy guidance.
- Discounted rates for Not-For-Profit organisations.
Looking ahead to 2025, we invite you to book a free, no-obligation consultation to explore how we can help enhance your health communication and improve patient outcomes.
Let’s Turn the Tide Together
At Health Literacy Now, we’re passionate about transforming the way healthcare connects with people. By prioritising health literacy, we can reduce hospital readmissions, improve patient safety, and empower individuals to take control of their health.
Join us in 2025 to build a healthier, more informed future. Together, we can make a difference.