I Can't Read That! Improving Perioperative Literacy for Ambulatory Surgical Patients

Low literacy and low health literacy are surprisingly rampant problems facing health care providers. Patient educators in all settings should consider the need for improved patient education materials that are easy to read and understand for the majority of patients. In the ambulatory surgery setting, patients often have time to prepare for scheduled outpatient surgery, yet education is provided primarily in the postoperative period. This article highlights the need for incorporating education into all phases of the perioperative process, beginning in the preoperative period. Perioperative educators should address all learning styles that provide education in a simple and cost-effective way to appeal to all patients and help to reduce postoperative complications and increase patient satisfaction in the ambulatory surgery setting.