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 […]
Health Literacy & Digital Health Literacy
YOU can help redefine health literacy
Yes, YOU. You can help redefine health literacy. Right now! As long as you’re reading this before August 5, 2019, you can help redefine health literacy. I’ll share the news, the important details, and some resources to get your thoughts going. The news From a recent email update from the CDC: “The Department of Health […]
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 […]
Introducing: the Building BRIDGES approach
About two weeks ago, I was talking to a former colleague of mine in higher ed about my podcast series, 10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication. Knowing my background is not in healthcare, he asked, with some surprise, “You have 45 episodes? On different topics?” “Yes,” I said proudly. “New one every 2 weeks.” The […]
Get more free resources in our Free Member Library
Did you know we have a Library? And that it’s free? And that you can use it, right now? There’s no shortage of resources out there on health communication, health literacy, digital health, and patient education. When there’s so much to wade through, it becomes more a question of where to start. At Health Communication […]
Health literacy as an interaction, Part 2
“We’re burned by, ‘Tell ‘em what they need to know, and hope they heard.’ It’s the cultural legacy…” A surgeon told me this when we were talking about health literacy. His candor startled me. He went on to make the point that he was convinced he (and his colleagues) could be doing better. Despite […]