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Feature Article:   Improving health literacy improves patient outcomes

On a busy Monday morning, you work with a man who is in his fourth week of physical therapy after surgery to repair his right shoulder rotator cuff. You explain some new exercises for him to do at home and give him a handout that describes the exercises. Two days later, you learn the patient injured his shoulder while performing the exercises-most likely from performing them incorrectly. His family wants to sue you for not giving him the right instructions.What happened in this situation?

Feature Article:   Improving health literacy improves patient outcomes

Your new client signs a consent for treatment form and you proceed with the session. Two weeks later, he fails to keep his appointment. You learn that he has decided not to continue counseling because, as he says, "I don't know why I had to sign that paper before you'd talk to me. I'm not going to anybody any more." You recall that after discussing the consent form he shook his head "no" when you asked, "Do you have any questions?" Now you're worried that his mental health will deteriorate without the help he needs, and you feel you let your client down. What happened in this situation?

Feature Article:   Improving health literacy improves patient outcomes

On a busy Monday in a community pharmacy, you fill a new order for an anticoagulant medication and provide both the labeled bottle and patient education information. Three days later, you learn the patient is in the ED because he experienced active bleeding after taking three pills instead of one. His family wants to sue you for not giving him the right instructions and because the label was difficult to understand. You recall that after you gave the patient his instructions he shook his head "no" when asked, "Do you have any questions?" What happened in this situation?