The state of Tennessee ranks 47th in the country for poor health. Why? There are many reasons for our state’s poor health such as culture, poor health access, poverty, limited education, lack of health insurance and unhealthy lifestyles. But a prevailing reason is low health literacy. Health literacy is the ability of individuals to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate and cost effective decisions that enhance health and health care.

The Surgeon General has identified health literacy as the “currency for staying healthy.” The American Medical Association has called health literacy a hidden health problem of the health care system. The Institute of Medicine has identified health literacy as a national health priority. The Council of State Governments recognizes “the major obstacle to achieving a more informed and active health care consumer is the lack of basic health literacy.”  Low health literacy affects health care by increasing costs, compromising health care quality and limiting health care access.

The challenge to our state is how to move Tennessee health statistics from the bottom to the top. As the statewide outreach unit of the University of Tennessee, Extension’s Community Health Education Program strategy is to address Tennessee’s low health literacy and rising health care costs through community-based health education. The goal is to improve health literacy by teaching Tennesseans to be smart health care consumers who:

• Practice health protecting behaviors
• Can access scientifically accurate and culturally appropriate health information
• Take advantage of preventive care
• Use medical services appropriately and cost effectively

One of the greatest strengths of this public health education program is its capacity to reach large numbers of people in communities across the state with research-based information and evidence-based community programs. This is done through our statewide community education network of UT Extension educators working in UT Extension offices in all 95 counties. These community educators, trained by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences faculty with expertise in community health education, environmental health, nutrition and pharmacy, implement the program with a vast network of public and private partnerships in communities across the state.

Learn more about why TN ranks 47th in health:

• The Health of Tennessee for 2008
• Annual County Health Snapshots - County Health Rankings
• County Health Status Indicators

Partnerships Promoting a Healthier Tennessee

Current Programs

Self Care of Chronic Diseases

Health Promotion

	Be Poison Safe Tennessee!
Breast & Cervical Education & Screening Program	Body & Soul	Living Well
Protect the Skin You're In	Cooking for a Lifetime	HPV Toolkit

Worksite Health Promotion

An Employee Health Literacy Program

Need a quick answer? Try these web sites:

Merck Manual: Dictionary on Health Topics

Lifepoint Healthcontent: La Guía de la Salud en Español

These sites tell you when to seek help from a medical professional and what actions to take on your own.

• Mayo Clinic: First Aid Guide
• WebMD: A-Z Health Guide for Medical Symptoms

Health Topics

For more information about the UT Extension Health & Safety programs, please contact your local County Extension FCS Agent .