Patient Better vs PAM: What Health Literacy Really Looks Like in Practice
Introduction: What Are Health Literacy Tools and Where Do You Encounter Them?
Health literacy tools are designed to measure or support a patient’s ability to understand, manage, and navigate their own care. If you’ve ever been asked to fill out a survey before an appointment—or received a packet asking about how confident you feel managing your health—you’ve likely encountered one.
The most widely used measurement tool is PAM (the Patient Activation Measure), a licensed, proprietary instrument delivered through a healthcare provider. On the other hand, Patient Better’s Healthcare Proficiency Challenge is a health literacy teaching tool introduced directly to patients, starting with intake materials and continuing as part of a structured education program.
This article will walk you through the difference between PAM and Patient Better, where these tools show up in real-world care, what health literacy means in practice—not just theory—and how patients and caregivers can become truly prepared, not just scored.
What Is PAM? Understanding the Patient Activation Measure
The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) is a proprietary tool used by healthcare professionals to evaluate how confident a person feels managing their own health. If you’ve ever been handed a short survey at the doctor’s office asking things like, “I am confident I can follow through on medical treatments I may need” or “I know how to prevent further problems with my health,” you may have encountered PAM without realizing it.
Your responses generate a numerical score that classifies you into one of four “activation levels,” which providers can use to determine how engaged you are in your own care. PAM is typically administered in clinical settings—often during check-in or as part of a chronic care management program and it’s handled exclusively by licensed professionals.
But while PAM gives providers insight into where you stand, it stops short of helping you get to the next level. It doesn’t teach you how to manage your care—it only reports whether you seem ready to do so. And in most cases, you won’t even see your results. It’s a score about you, not a tool for you. Since PAM is licensed and controlled by clinical staff, it rarely reaches patients outside traditional medical environments.
What Is the Patient Better Healthcare Proficiency Challenge?
The Healthcare Proficiency Challenge, developed by Patient Better, flips the PAM model on its head. Instead of scoring you on what you already know, this tool helps you build the knowledge and skills needed to manage your care for today’s medical landscape. Think of it less as a quiz, and more as a guided self-check that launches your learning journey.
This challenge is delivered at the very start of the care relationship—usually alongside intake forms—giving patients an immediate sense of what they understand, what they don’t, and what steps to take next. Unlike PAM, it’s not reserved for doctors or providers to administer. It’s written for patients, families, and caregivers—anyone who needs to better understand how to navigate the healthcare system.
By walking through key areas like appointment prep, tracking medical history, communicating with providers, following treatment plans, and understanding insurance, the challenge serves as a real-world introduction to the Patient Better Academy. It doesn’t just measure readiness; it builds it—one step at a time.
The Healthcare Proficiency Challenge is particularly valuable for people in transition—like those leaving the hospital, managing a chronic condition at home, or supporting an aging parent—because it meets them at the moment they need help most. It becomes a launchpad for developing the self-health skills that often get overlooked in the clinic.
Patient Better vs PAM: The Core Differences
| Feature | PAM (Patient Activation Measure) | Patient Better Healthcare Proficiency Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Measures activation level | Teaches navigation and engagement skills |
| Who uses it | Licensed healthcare professionals | Patients, caregivers, and health advocates |
| When used | During appointments | At intake and throughout care journey |
| Outcome | Provider receives a score | Patient gains real-world skills |
| Cost/access | Licensed product, provider-facing | Consumer-facing, program-inclusive |
| Health literacy impact | Indirect (measures confidence) | Direct (builds competency) |
Why This Matters: Health Literacy in the Real World
Health literacy isn’t just about reading a pamphlet or understanding a medication label. In the real world, it’s about navigating a system that rarely pauses to explain itself — and doing so in moments when your health, or a loved one’s, hangs in the balance.
That’s why tools like PAM and Patient Better exist — but only one actually helps patients build the skills they need to succeed.
Let’s say you’re sitting in a clinic and handed a survey. The staff doesn’t explain much, just asks you to “fill this out.” That survey might be the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) — a tool designed to assess your readiness to manage your own care. But you wouldn’t know that unless someone told you.
And more importantly, you might not know what to do with it.
Here are a few questions every patient or caregiver should ask when presented with a health literacy measurement tool:
- What is this form measuring, and why does it matter for my care?
- Will I receive the results of this assessment, and if so, how should I use them?
- If I score low, what resources or support will be available to help me improve?
- Can someone walk me through this process if I have questions?
- Is there a follow-up plan to help me become more confident in managing my care?
These aren’t just technical questions — they’re empowerment questions. And they reflect what real health literacy is about: knowing when to ask for clarity, how to document what you’ve been told, and what steps to take if you don’t understand.
Unfortunately, most assessment tools stop at scoring. They don’t equip you for what happens next.
That’s where Patient Better makes the difference. Instead of handing you a score, it hands you a system — one that teaches you how to prepare for your appointments, how to coordinate your own care, and how to confidently participate in medical decisions.
In a fragmented and often rushed healthcare environment, health literacy is too often assumed — and almost never taught. PAM might tell a provider where you are; Patient Better gives you the roadmap to get where you need to be.
What Health Literacy Tools Are Out There?
Many tools exist, but they generally fall into two categories: measurement tools (like PAM, REALM, and TOFHLA) and educational frameworks (like Patient Better).
| Tool | Type | What it does | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAM | Assessment | Measures activation level | No teaching function |
| TOFHLA | Assessment | Tests reading and comprehension of medical material | Academic use only |
| REALM | Assessment | Tests recognition of medical words | Doesn’t measure navigation |
| HLQ | Assessment | Surveys experiences with care | No patient education component |
| Patient Better | Education + Assessment | Teaches and measures self-health skills | Requires patient participation |
Final Thoughts: Health Literacy Is Not a Score — It’s a Skill
Understanding your activation score is helpful. But knowing how to schedule your next specialist visit, manage your medications, and coordinate care after a hospital discharge? That’s where real health literacy lives.
Whether you’re managing your own care or supporting a loved one, the difference between being measured and being prepared is everything. Patient Better vs PAM isn’t just a comparison of tools — it’s a reflection of what patients truly need in today’s complex healthcare world.
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Disclaimer: This education was brought to you today by The Patient Better Project Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reshaping the way patients and caregivers navigate care. We are committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to take control of their health journeys, ensuring that everyone can access the care they need with confidence and clarity.
The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
