An adult's health literacy level is often silent and overlooked. Yet, it is a vital building block linked to patient safety and outcomes. Health care provider health literacy awareness and knowledge has increased since the release of the Institute of Medicine publication Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion (Nielsen-Bohlman, Panzer, & Kindig, 2004). Highlighted in this report is effective patient-centered communication of health-related information as the foundation of patient safety.
