Problem:
Health literacy can decrease a patients ability/willingness to seek medical care. Those with low health literacy may not understand how to find appropriate care, utilize their insurance coverage, or when to seek help. Low health literacy is linked with decreased instances of care (Levy, H. et al., 2016). Biopsychosocial factors that can affect access to care is financial status, access to transportation, location of home to care facilities, emotional and intellectual status, and understanding of health status and treatment. The above issue has played a role in my current career several times just in the last year alone. We have patients cancel their surgeries often due to lack of transportation, having to work/no time off, and lack of childcare during their procedure. I have also had patients who wanted to drive themselves home after anesthesia because they had no other ride, which is very dangerous and illegal. I have also seen patients who have had to reschedule due to financial reasons.