Medical literacy by the numbers...
Understanding medical information affects everything from medication adherence to chronic disease management and health outcomes. Here’s why improving medical literacy matters:
9/10
Adults in the United States struggle to understand and use everyday health information when it is complex or unfamiliar, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
12%
Of U.S. adults have proficient health literacy.
$1-2 billion
Limited health literacy costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $106–$238 billion each year.
Increased risk
Patients with low health literacy are more likely to experience higher hospitalization rates, poorer chronic disease management, and lower use of preventive services.
Who We Are
The Medical Literacy Initiative was founded on one simple belief: medical knowledge should be accessible, accurate, and understandable to everyone.
We are a physician led educational platform dedicated to improving health literacy across specialties. Our content is written by trained pre-medical contributors and reviewed by licensed physicians to ensure clarify, accuracy, and relevance.
Mission
Our mission is to improve health literacy by making evidence-based medical information understandable and accessible.
Vision
We envision a world where medical information is no longer overwhelming or inaccessible. Our long-term goal is to build a comprehensive, trusted medical education ecosystem — one that bridges the gap between academic medicine and the public.
