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 Welcome! It's February, which in the U.S. means it's time for Groundhog Day. This is when the groundhog, "Punxsutawney Phil," emerges from his burrow to predict (depending on whether he sees his shadow) when spring will come this year.
I've always liked Groundhog Day. It seems like a fitting occasion to emerge from our burrows and look ahead to what's next. What might this mean in terms of health literacy? I see many changes ahead in regard to how people access, use, and pay for healthcare services.
As health literacy advocates, our job is to clearly communicate information about these changes that our audience needs to know. Thanks for doing all you do. As requested, here's what's new in Health Literacy Consulting.
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HLC How-To
| Words and Metaphors Matter. I am a great fan of creating and using metaphors to explain unfamiliar concepts and terms. But I also am sensitive to times when metaphors may muddy the message. This was made clear in a recent New York Times article about some awkward phrasing used to discuss gun safety.
Do we ever muddy health care messages through our choice of words and metaphors? I think we sometimes do. This month's Health Literacy Consulting How-To Tip highlights ways to communicate more clearly.
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HLOL Audio & Video
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Health Literacy Out Loud (HLOL). I'm excited to share news that soon I'll be adding video interviews to my podcast mix. The first HLOL video will go live in mid-February. Subscribe for free and keep up to date with all HLOL audio & video episodes. Here are the latest HLOL audio podcasts:
Read HLOL written transcripts.
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HL Hero
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Health Literacy Heroes find health literacy problems and act to fix them. This e-newsletter will highlight actions that individuals, teams, and organizations are taking to make health information more understandable.
Archie Willard is February's Health Literacy Hero. Archie is an ardent, articulate health literacy advocate. For decades, he has taught so many of us about why health literacy matters to those we care for and care about. Archie's actions include leading health literacy conferences, encouraging patients and providers to work together, participating on patient safety panels, and reviewing patient education materials. What makes Archie's work even more meaningful is that he learned to read at age 54, soon after being diagnosed with severe dyslexia. You can hear Archie talk about some of his health literacy experiences in this Health Literacy Out Loud podcast.
Who is your Health Literacy Hero? Email me with suggestions about who to honor. Please include why this person, team, or organization merits honoring as a "Health Literacy Hero."
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HL News & Resources
|  Here are some health literacy happenings:
Teach-Back Toolkit. This new, free, interactive, online toolkit is designed to help all health care providers learn how, and why, to use the teach-back technique. (Developed by Iowa Health System and Health Literacy Iowa.)
Lots of health literacy conferences in the next few months. Here's one I'm speaking at: "Integrating Health Literacy into the Patient Centered Medical Home," Friday, April 5, 2013 in Raleigh, NC. Learn more and register.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition. I'm delighted to share news that my book is now available as an eBook on CourseSmart, Amazon/Kindle, and Google eBooks. And it continues to rank in Amazon's Best Sellers in two categories: Doctor-Patient Relations and Administration & Management. Thanks everyone! |
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Thanks for subscribing to What's New in Health Literacy Consulting. Please help spread the word about health literacy. One way is by forwarding this newsletter to all who care about understandable health communication. Another way is by encouraging others to subscribe, just like you.
What challenges, changes, and opportunities do you predict for this year?
Until March, ~ Helen Osborne |
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