Resolution 140810

..Title Recognizing October as Health Literacy Month. ..Body WHEREAS, Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions; and WHEREAS, Only 12 percent of adults have proficient health literacy, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy; and WHEREAS, Low literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes such as higher rates of hospitalization and less frequent use of preventive services; and WHEREAS, Populations most likely to suffer from low health literacy include those age 65 and over, minorities, immigrant populations and Medicare/Medicaid recipients; and WHEREAS, We all must do our part to increase health literacy in our communities, but the primary responsibility for improving health literacy lies with public health professionals and the healthcare and public health systems; and WHEREAS, We must work together to ensure that health information and services can be understood and used by all Pennsylvanians; now; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize October as Health Literacy Month. ..End