Health Literacy

How was your last medical encounter?

The world of healthcare can be confusing, misunderstood, and frightful. Not just for the average person. Health illiteracy has no barriers respective to educational level, occupational title, or income totals. When I say health illiteracy, I mean the inability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for yourself and others. (HealthyPeople 22030, CDC,gov) The impact of the lack of understanding can be seen in research studies pointing to the continued rise in chronic health conditions.

What prompts me to start this blog? Divine intervention-community needs-general concern-looking for meaningful change in life? All of the above! Living in the state of South Carolina, zip code 29229, this evidence in health literacy is seen every day in the community I serve. I’ll start to answer my own question by addressing divine intervention. I moved south five years ago to take a job at a hospital. It was a decision I felt, and still feel, was made based on a spiritual push. Since the move, I have adjusted to the South for the most part and have enjoyed my job duties. Of course, we all went through the pandemic. Working in the hospital I was affected in a very meaningful way. I believe I was here for “such a time as this” (as the church folks say). As far as community needs, I have witnessed this community access healthcare. I have treated and discussed health issues with many patients. I have discussed patients with my coworkers. I wanted to make sure what I was seeing, was also seen by others. In comparison to where I have moved from, this community lacks healthcare resources, insurance, education access, and health literacy at a higher rate than my past experiences. I started doing research on specific attributes of this community (surrounding counties of my zip code). What I found is no secret. You can look on all the government health agency websites and find that South Carolina overall had a poor health report card. As far as looking for a change that provides purpose or meaning, I do believe that my spirit continues to move me to help address these issues.

So, here I am making my first blog. My goal is simple: address health literacy by going to the community and having discussion. I recently heard a Tedtalk reminding me how formidable “the grapevine” can be in disseminating information (good or bad; right or wrong). I’m going to start a grapevine! This blog will be dedicated to sharing stories, providing resouces, toolkits, and educational materials to improve our community’s health.

Hope you’ll join me and be uplifted. Health is wealth!! Let’s talk!

Beth Reeves