Improving Patient Safety Through Informed Consent for Patients with Limited Health Literacy.
In the 2003 report Safe Practices for Better Healthcare, the National Quality Forum (NQF) recommended 30 practices, one of which emphasized improved communication in the informed consent process. This report builds on that safe practice endorsement by summarizing strategies for rapid and widespread adoption. The report describes experiences from four hospitals that successfully implemented the practice and discusses common barriers and solutions involved. Recommendations are provided to guide health care organizations still striving to meet the requirement for an effective informed consent process.