Editor’s introduction: A serious gap exists between what providers intend to convey and what patients and families understand.The fact is the lack of health literacy costs the U.S. more than $100 billion annually, according to the Victor Dzau, president of the Institute of Medicine. Speaking at the IOM’s Roundtable on Health Literacy, which was convened […]
As the American population is living longer, hospitals are experiencing an increase in the geriatric population — both inpatient and ambulatory care. Kings County Hospital Center is no different, as demonstrated by our patients who are admitted for congestive heart failure. Contrary to popular perception, a significant number of our elderly population are awake, alert, […]
Healthcare systems are evolving with the expectation that patients and families are collaborative partners in the overall plan of care. A major focus for providers is changing patient’s behavior in order to improve access, decrease cost, prevent readmission and improve health outcomes. A significant, if underappreciated, factor in this new order is the ability for […]