Tools to Implement Health Literacy Universal Precautions
Resource: AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2nd edition
Health literacy universal precautions are steps that practices take when they assume that all patients are at risk of misunderstanding or falling through the health care system’s cracks. This AHRQ toolkit contains 21 short tools to help primary care practices reduce the complexity of health care, increase patient understanding of health information, and enhance support for patients of all health literacy levels. Implementing these tools can help practices improve communication, link patients to community resources, and obtain patients’ and families’ input, all part of Key Driver 5: Engage with patients and families in evidence-based care and quality improvement. The toolkit, which contains a Quick Start Guide, includes tools such as:
- Use the Teach-Back Method.
- Follow Up With Patients.
- Conduct Brown Bag Medicine Reviews.
- Address Language Differences.
- Use Health Education Materials Effectively.
- Encourage Questions.
- Make Action Plans.
- Help Patients Remember How and When to Take Their Medicines.
- Get Patient Feedback.
- Link Patients to Non-Medical Support.
- Direct Patients to Medicine Resources.
Institution of origin: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Author(s): Brega AG, Barnard J, Mabachi NM, Weiss BD, DeWalt DA, Brach C, Cifuentes M, Albright K, West DR
Publication date: January 2015
