The Power of Information: Why Patient Education Matters

It’s important to understand just why education is so critical to equitable healthcare, and why some knowledge about how the U.S. medical system works is doubly so.

As we’ve explored over the past year or so, health equity is not just about access to doctors or hospitals, it’s about ensuring that every individual has the tools to make informed decisions about their health. Information and education sit at the center of this challenge. Without them, patients remain passive recipients of care. With them, patients can become active participants and smarter healthcare consumers.

The link between education and health is well established. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults without a high school diploma are almost twice as likely to report poor health compared to those with a college degree. Education impacts health behaviors, job opportunities, and income, all of which shape a person’s ability to access and use healthcare effectively.

Let’s look at just one component, literacy. Nearly 36 million adults in the United States cannot read above a third-grade level. Low literacy is associated with higher hospitalization rates, less use of preventive services, and poorer health outcomes overall.[1] When patients lack the ability to interpret prescriptions, understand discharge instructions, or navigate insurance coverage, they cannot advocate for themselves in the healthcare system.

Poverty compounds health inequities in the U.S. Roughly 37.9 million Americans live below the federal poverty line, and low-income households experience higher rates of chronic disease. Social determinants of health, such as stable housing, food security, transportation, and employment, play a larger role in predicting outcomes than medical care itself, with research showing that clinical care accounts for only about 20% of health outcomes, while social and economic factors account for up to 40%.[2] Patients in poverty often delay seeking care until conditions become acute, not from lack of awareness but from lack of resources. When healthcare providers equip these patients with reliable information about low-cost preventive options, community health programs, and financial assistance, they can help break this cycle. Education becomes the lever that reduces long-term costs and improves both individual and community health outcomes.

Urban and rural safety-net and nonprofit hospitals provide essential care to populations that might otherwise go without. When these facilities integrate robust patient education programs such as telehealth, community workshops, or partnerships with local schools, they empower patients to take preventive steps and reduce avoidable hospital visits.

The idea of a “smart healthcare consumer” is simple: a patient who understands their options, asks informed questions, and makes choices that balance quality and cost. This does not happen automatically. It requires intentional investment in health education.

Understanding the basics of how the U.S. healthcare system works helps patients—especially those with less formal education—navigate care more effectively. Knowing the difference between a deductible and a copay, how insurance networks function, or what rights patients have can reduce confusion, prevent surprise bills, and improve use of preventive services.

Studies consistently show that patients with higher health literacy experience fewer hospitalizations, better management of chronic conditions, and overall better health outcomes. In short, even a small increase in system knowledge can translate into greater confidence, lower costs, and healthier lives.

Some of the approaches that should be considered to assist patient literacy include:

• Plain-language resources: Materials written at a 4th-grade reading level wherever possible

• Tailored communication and support for different learning styles and languages

• Digital literacy support: Teaching patients to use trusted online resources

• Supportive messaging and multiple avenues for assistance

• Community partnerships: Collaborating with healthcare facilities to extend education beyond the doctor’s office or hospital

When patients understand their care plans, preventive screenings, and insurance benefits, they use healthcare more efficiently. This lowers avoidable emergency department visits and improves adherence to treatments.

Health equity is not achievable without health education. Access to providers and hospitals matters, but so does access to information that empowers patients to make decisions. By investing in literacy programs, simplifying health communication, and supporting hospitals in underserved communities, the healthcare system can move closer to equity.

Education turns patients into informed partners, and informed partners make for healthier communities.

1. Berkman ND, Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, Halpern DJ, Crotty K., Low Health Literacy and Health Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2011;155(2):97–107. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-2-201107190-00005

2. McGinnis JM, Williams-Russo P, Knickman JR., “The Case for More Active Policy Attention to Health Promotion.” Health Affairs. 2002;21(2):78–93. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.21.2.78