It’s Safe to Ask
Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and communicate information needed to make healthcare decisions.
Approximately 60% of adult Manitobans have low levels of health literacy.
It’s Safe to Ask encourages patients and families to request the information they need in order to become active participants in their care. It includes easy-to-read materials for patients, as well as information kits for healthcare providers and organizations.
It’s Safe to Ask encourages patients and health care providers to discuss 3 key questions:
- What is my health problem?
- What do I need to do?
- Why do I need to do this?
It’s Safe to Ask will :
- promote stronger communication between patients and providers,
- lead to more informed patients,
- increased awareness about the importance of communication, and,
- contribute to reduced patient harm and safer outcomes for patients.
Knowledge is critical to quality healthcare and improved health outcomes. A well-informed patient
- asks questions,
- tries to understand, and
- ensures adequate response and action by themselves, their families and their healthcare providers.
In advance of the official province-wide launch (January 9, 2007), MIPS and its partners sent It’s Safe to Ask information and materials to 19,000 health care providers across the province.
It’s Safe to Ask is modeled on a successful initiative in the United States called Ask Me 3.
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