“We’ll see you and Katie on Monday. Take it easy this weekend,” the vet tech says on the other end of the phone. “Thanks,” I say, and my voice can’t escape cracking, and I hang up the phone and cry. It’s Saturday. The Monday appointment will likely have only one outcome. I am standing at […]
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Upgrade your patient education. Fast. Here. Now.
Partners, I’m proud to announce – the Effective Patient Education Audiobook Bundle This bundle will make your life easier. And it might change the way you think about patient education. You see many patients in a day and have a high level of complexity to deal with. You want patients to trust you, hear […]
Why addressing unconscious bias can make people nervous
Last week I was in Baltimore, at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare/Health Literacy Annual Research Conference. Every one of the keynote addresses discussed biases and stereotypes. Every one. (Biases and stereotypes was not the conference theme.) The importance of examining and addressing unconscious biases seems to be well understood in the research community. […]
One way you can improve your health communication right now
The end of the year gives us all a reason to look back, and take stock. As I was reflecting on my work in health communication this year, I saw a pattern I thought I’d share with you. It’s about a commonality in many of the conversations I’ve had, that might be helpful to you. […]
New! Addressing Implicit Bias Audiobook Bundle
I’m proud to announce an exclusive new resource: An audiobook bundled with resources, so you can begin addressing unconscious bias in your everyday practice. This bundle goes beyond the challenges of recognizing bias. It shows what you can do about it. You get: nearly 90-minute audiobook 40 page eBook with linked research references PowerPoint Presentation […]
10 (free) health communication resources I’m grateful for
It’s Thanksgiving time around here, and in that spirit, I want to share with you some health communication resources that I am thankful for this year. Some of these might be new to you. Some of these, perhaps you’ve heard of, but might not be using. And for the ones you are already using, I […]
Being mindful of your metaphors in medicine
The genetic program. The tree of life. A battle against cancer. These health-related metaphors have become so ubiquitous that they can slip past our notice. Metaphor has been recognized as one of the most important rhetorical devices of all time, ever since Aristotle treated it in his Art of rhetoric. Metaphors are as sophisticated as […]
3 Common patient communication roadblocks (and how to get past them)
I’ll get right down to business: You care about patient communication because you know what a difference it makes to the care you provide. The many health care professionals I’ve talked to over the years, like you, care about patient communication. And over time, I have heard some common problems, challenges, and requests when it […]
“We’re always, always being asked to do one more thing.”
Several months ago, I was talking to an oncologist about provider education. He told me about his usual experience with provider education at his organization, with an edge to his voice: “We are always, always being asked to do one more thing. Things added on. Little things…and it’s constant and it’s so frustrating.” This ‘one […]
