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Five Key Literacy Skills for Success and Moving PA Forward: Health Literacy

Explains the PA Forward Initiative and the purpose of the PA Forward Star Library Program. It focuses on how the Madigan Library participates and has become a Gold Star Library

Health Literacy

We envision a Pennsylvania with active citizens able to manage their own and their familiy's well-being, empowered to be effective partners with their healthcare providers, and living longer, more productive lives.

Breast Cancer Display

Display of materials and free giveaways for Breast Cancer Awareness

Dental Hygiene Display

Library materials about Dental Hygiene

Why Health Literacy is Important

Here are some reasons that HEALTH LITERACY is a PA Forward priority:

  • Nearly half of all adults have difficulty understanding and using health information.
  • Far more people look for health information online than see a doctor on a typical day.
  • On popular search engines, only one link in five leads to relevant health information.
  • Nothing - not age, income, employment status, education level, or racial and ethnic background - affects health status more than literacy skills.
  • Research shows that individuals with low health literacy were significantly more likely than individuals with adequate health literacy to delay or forego needed care or to report difficulty finding a provider.
  • Basic health literacy is fundamental to the success of interaction between health care professionals and patients - every prescription, every treatment and every recovery.
  • Patients with inadequate health literacy are diagnosed with cancer at a later stage.
  • Populations most likely to suffer from low health literacy include those aged 65 and over, minorities, immigrant populations, and Medicare/Medicaid recipients.
  • Forty-six percent of American adults cannot understand the label on their prescription medicine.

Health Literacy Display

Health Literacy Display of Books and library materials

Relax and Color!

Relax & Color with Adult coloring books