The Cost of Low Health Literacy – a conversation with Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis

LANGHORNE, Pa. - Oct. 24, 2019 - PRLog -- Sommer Consulting, a qualitative primary research firm of Language Specialists, Decision Strategy Experts, and Insight Analysts with a robust history of health literacy engagements, today published an interview with Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis on the cost of low health literacy.

"With October being Health Literacy Month, we wanted to do our part to promote a discussion on this incredibly important topic," said Bill Stone, Sommer Consulting's Director, Content Strategy. "Words matter. Ensuring the right ones are used with patients has been Sommer Consulting's purpose and privilege for 40+ years. We are thrilled that Treasurer Davis joined us in this crucial conversation."

Health literacy is the use of a wide range of skills including reading, writing, listening, speaking, numeracy, critical analysis, communication, and interaction that allows people to act on information to live healthier lives.

"Giving a voice to all patients, including individuals with limited health literacy who may sometimes be excluded from typical healthcare research, is critically important," said Juliette Faughnan, Sommer Consulting's President. "While just over half of U.S. adults have intermediate health literacy, nearly nine out of ten of them face some sort of routine health literacy challenge, from being unsure how to interpret a clause in their health insurance, to not knowing how to decipher their doctors' directives when too much medical jargon is used."

Health literacy status is a greater prediction of one's overall health than is socioeconomic status or education. The lower a person's health literacy, the less likely they are to maintain good health, which can lead to exorbitant costs – costs to the healthcare system, taxpayers, and families.

"It is always great to tie the financial impacts of decisions to the personal lives of residents, and nowhere is that more critical than in the area of healthcare," said Christina Haas, Director of Communications & Policy Advisor of the Office of the Delaware State Treasurer.

Low health literacy is a major source of economic inefficiency in the U.S. healthcare system. It's estimated that it costs the U.S. economy between $106 billion to $238 billion annually.

To read Sommer Consulting's interview with Treasurer Davis, visit https://sommerconsulting.com/the-cost-of-low-health-literacy/.

About Sommer Consulting

Sommer Consulting, a primary qualitative research firm specializing in healthcare research that saw a need to give greater representation to all patients, began bringing health literacy to the forefront of its engagements 10+ years ago.

About the Office of the Delaware State Treasurer

The mission of the Office of the State Treasurer is to provide the State of Delaware with superior transaction, cash, and plan management services while ensuring sound fiscal stewardship over the States' financial assets, systems and processes.