Q&A: Patients with low health literacy

Q. How can case managers work to identify patients with low health literacy?

A. There are some red flags to look out for when identifying patients with health literacy problems. Patients who struggle with health literacy may demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Do not know the names of their medications or why they are prescribed
• Are passive in clinical settings and rarely ask questions
• Have difficulty completing medical forms
• Experience problems navigating and completing diagnostic tests, procedures, medication refills, and/or consultation processes

For more information, see Case Management Guide to Population Health: Management Across the Continuum of Care.

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