Health Equity and Health Literacy

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I think what Dr. Will Ross, a Memphis-native physician, was speaking about during his interview with UTHSC needs to be heard by everyone in the health care field. Dr. Ross talks about health equity, which aligns in my mind with occupational justice. He said that everyone has the right to and is entitled to achieving their highest health potential. It is easy to look at a person where they stand and think you understand them, but there are countless social and physical determinants, or potential barriers, to each and every person behind the scenes. As individuals, we may not have the power to change the availability of services, but we do have a duty to provide the most quality, effective, and culturally- humiliated services to anyone who walks in the door. We must also consider the definition of health, which is more than just the absence of disease, but rather a combination of physical health, mental health, and social well-being. With that being said, everyone everywhere has the right to achieve the most optimal state of physical health, mental health, and social well- being in whatever way that brings fulfillment and purpose to them. One of the core values of this profession is inclusion which is why OT is such a perfect platform to advocate for health equity and actively practice it.

Building on that, health literacy is the tool in which we can respectfully and empathetically provide services to all, regardless of their education, social background, or environmental conditions. Health literacy is the means of effective communication and education to the client in client- appropriate language. The services we provide are already client- centered, so as occupational therapists, we are already experts at this approach. I think it’s important as a practitioner to present yourself as trustworthy as possible in order to allow the clients to feel comfortable enough to tell you when they don’t understand or ask questions when they feel lost. It’s comforting and encouraging when someone takes the time to connect with you on such a deep level. I love that the AOTA 2025 vision speaks to all of this, just without the lingo I learned today.

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