Because health literacy is such a broad term, it can be frustrating to work with, get advice on, or give advice on. This sentiment was front and center recently, when I gave a plenary about health literacy in a session the organizers had titled: “The Stumbling Block: Health Literacy.” Here, I’m considering some challenges you […]
Public Health Communication
It’s the 50th episode of 10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication
Thank you, everyone! It’s our 50th episode today! Without you, we would not have gotten here. You may know I co-produce the “10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication” series with my brother Joe. What you might not know is why we do this, and what goes into it. A while back, I asked Joe what […]
Multimodality and health literacy, in memory of Gunther Kress
As a confirmed health literacy fan, I’m glad for health professionals’ high level of awareness around health literacy. I am often asked some version of the question: what can we do better as a field to support patients in growing their health literacy? My goal in this short essay is to challenge the way you […]
Infographic: 13 ways to reflect on patient/client communication
Here at Health Communication Partners, we think (and talk and write) about health communication all the time. It’s, y’know, in our name. Of all the possible ways of approaching the issue of communicating with patients, this is one of my favorites. That’s partly because when it comes to communicating as professionals, reflective practice can help […]
LGBTQ health disparities and microaggressions
June is Pride month, and a perfect time to think about the power of our everyday language. If you’ve read around this site or heard my podcast series, you know I’m one of the people interested in how health disparities are related to words, phrases and terms used around issues of health. So this is […]
How common terminology may perpetuate mental health stigma
A few weeks ago, I read a tweet from Dr. Javeed Sukhera about terminology and mental health. The tweet had ‘gone viral,’ and it’s stayed in my mind since then. Next time someone says "mental health" what if we took out "mental" and just said "health?" "I need time off for my health." "I need […]