Hurricane Isaias: Healthcare providers, please contact Acentra Health toll-free at 888-317-0751 with questions or concerns related to BFCC-QIO services, as they may be impacted by the hurricane. For people who have Medicare, Acentra Health has social workers and representatives to help resolve concerns quickly through Immediate Advocacy. Emergency information for impacted states is available by clicking on your state on the map on the home page.

Medicare Open Enrollment goes from October 15 through December 7. Even if you're happy with your current coverage, it's worth taking another look to see what's changing for next year. Visit our Medicare Open Enrollment page for helpful information and resources to make choices that work for you.

Don’t miss our October 28 webinar, Partners in Care: Empowering Patients, Families, and Providers to Improve Outcomes, featuring practical strategies to help patients, families, and providers work together to improve outcomes. Visit our webinars page for details and to register.

Health Literacy Month

We are the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization, working to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries. Our site offers beneficiary and family-centered care information for providers, patients, and families. Welcome!

Home / Health Literacy Month

Feeling More Confident At Your Doctor Appointments

Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment wishing you had asked one more question?

Or looked at test results and wondered what they really meant?

Healthcare can feel confusing at times. But understanding your care doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with something simple — writing down a question, asking for a clearer explanation, or reviewing trusted information after your visit.

Small steps can make a big difference.

Explore the tools below to help you feel more confident before, during, and after your medical appointments.

Finding Information on the Web

The internet is a wonderful resource to look up things.

However, it is important to find websites with trustworthy information:

  • Websites ending with .gov are government sites. For example, www.medicare.gov.
  • Websites that end in .org are usually healthcare institutions or organizations providing patient education.
  • Websites ending with .edu are usually colleges and universities (e.g., medical schools).

Be More Involved With Your Health Care

Patients who ask questions and make sure they understand the answers tend to get more timely, accurate diagnoses and have better results and peace of mind.

  • Here are some tips to use before, during, and after your medical appointment to make sure you get the best possible care: www.ahrq.gov
  • You can also download this patient flyer and use it for notes before, during, and after your doctor appointment: Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare (PDF)
  • For more information about how to be active in your own health care, including a video and brochure, click on this link (www.ahrq.gov/health-literacy) and scroll down to “For Patients.”
  • MyHealthfinder is a prevention and wellness resource from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Watch these short videos where patients talk about how simple questions can help you take better care of yourself, feel better, and get the right care at the right time. Doctors and nurses talk about how your questions help them take better care of you.

For Healthcare Providers and Stakeholders

Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  • Health Literacy Online is a guide that helps you develop health websites and digital health information materials that people can easily access and understand.
  • MyHealthfinder is a prevention and wellness resource that you can share with people who have limited health literacy skills.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Information for:

What Does “Health Literacy” Mean?
It simply means understanding your health information well enough to make decisions that are right for you.