To promote clear communication between those who give and those who receive health care services.

Wisconsin Health Literacy (WHL) is a statewide organization raising awareness of the importance of health literacy and fostering better communication between health care consumers and health care providers. WHL is a division of Wisconsin Literacy, Inc., a nonprofit coalition representing a membership of 77 community-based literacy agencies.

Health Literacy News

What is health literacy?

The Institute of Medicine defines health literacy as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic information and services needed to make appropriate decisions regarding their health." 

Resources on health literacy

Why is it so important?

Literacy skills are the strongest predictor of health status, more than age, income, employment status, education level or racial/ethnic group. 

Health literacy was first measured on a national scale over a decade ago. The results revealed:


Health Literacy Training