Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast: Recent Episodes
Helen Osborne
Dr. Linda Ciavarelli is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) and board-certified specialist in Primary Podiatric Care. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Linda honed her expertise in preventative, orthopedic, and dermatologic podiatric medicine. In addition to her clinical background, Linda is the co-founder of HouseCall VR, an innovative startup dedicated to creating virtual reality patient education. This company aims to improve health literacy and outcomes using immersive technology.
Linda has presented at numerous state, national, and global conferences, scientific meetings, and symposia on topics such as Patient Education Using Immersive Technology, Immersive Technology in Healthcare, and Developing Impact-Driven Innovation in XR. She also is active in her community and professional organizations.
Listen as Linda Ciavarelli and Helen Osborne talk about:
- Immersive technology. What this technology is and its many formats including virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.
- Virtual reality as a tool for patient education. How this differs from, yet in many ways is similar to, other forms of patient education.
- Innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit to try something new when it comes to health communication.
More ways to learn:
- HouseCallVR: VR Patient Education
- HouseCall VR Product Demo
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapters “Technology: E-Health,” “Technology: Online Teaching and Video Games,” and X-tras” are especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Immersive Technology and Virtual Reality for Patient Education (HLOL #274) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Matthew Davenport MD MBA is Professor of Radiology and Urology, Service Chief, and Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Radiology at Michigan Medicine. He also is Co-Director of the Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer. Dr. Davenport is a co-author on national policy statements and has published over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is frequently interviewed regarding important issues in radiology including in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NBC and ABC news, and prominent national magazines.
Listen as Matthew Davenport and Helen Osborne discuss:
- Incidental findings and uncertain conditions. What these terms mean, why they occur, how often they happen.
- Benefits, harms, and examples of how incidental findings may lead to a cascade of care.
- Patient-centered communication. Helping patients better understand the implications of such findings and work to take control of their health.
More Ways to Learn:
- “Incidental Findings and Low-Value Care,” by Matthew S. Davenport, American Journal of Roentgenology, January 11, 2023.
- “Potential Frameworks for Communicating Diagnostic Certainty in Radiology Reports: From the ACR Commission on Quality and Safety,” by multiple authors, JACR, November 2025.
- “Elective MRI Screening of the General Public—Buyer Beware”, by Matthew S. Davenport and Scott B. Reeder, JAMA, May 6, 2026.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Life Choices, and Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Communicating About Incidental Findings and Other Uncertain Conditions (HLOL #273) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Jason Kirchick MPH, MSN, RN, CNL, MEDSURG-BC is an inpatient Hematology and Oncology nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center where he cares for patients with blood cancers and solid tumors at every stage of illness. Before nursing, Jason worked as a firefighter and EMT, a background that gave him an intimate understanding of life-threatening emergencies. Jason holds a Master of Public Health, a Master of Science in Nursing, and is completing training as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. As a trained death doula, Jason is deeply committed to patient and family-centered care. This commitment is shaped by his own experience surviving septic shock and multi-organ failure which left him in a medically induced coma for two months and ultimately drew him into nursing.
Listen as Jason Kirchick and Helen Osborne discuss:
- Code Status. A patient’s preferences for emergency medical care if their heart or breathing stops.
- Nuances of code status options and why it is important to “lift the veil” about what these options really are like.
- Factors that can affect understanding of these options including health literacy, emotions, and expectations as portrayed in popular media.
- Strategies and recommendations to help patients and their families more clearly understand their code status options.
More ways to Learn:
- VitalTalk. Trains clinicians in evidence-based communication skills for serious illness conversations, including goals of care and code status. Their free mobile Tips App provides quick reference guides that clinicians can pull up in real time before entering a difficult conversation. Their one-page Quick Guides cover specific scenarios and are ideal for printing and sharing on a unit.
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 3rd Edition This free, publicly available toolkit from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality contains 23 practical tools designed for busy healthcare settings. It covers strategies like teach-back, simplifying written materials, and making care transitions easier to understand. The toolkit is built on the principle that clear communication should be the default for every patient, not just those identified as having low literacy.
- AMA Journal of Ethics: Discussing Code Status with Patients and Their Families This case-based article from the American Medical Association walks through a realistic scenario in which a code status conversation goes poorly and explores what could be done differently. It remains one of the most accessible introductions to the complexity of these conversations and is a worthwhile read for clinicians at any level of experience.
- ELNEC (End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium) National and international education initiative developed by City of Hope and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The curriculum covers communication, pain and symptom management, ethical issues, and care at the end of life. ELNEC Academy online modules are available and are appropriate for both practicing nurses and students looking to build confidence in palliative and end-of-life care.
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (Metropolitan Books, 2014) Gawande, a surgeon, examines how medicine often fails patients at the end of life by prioritizing treatment over quality of life. The book challenges clinicians and families alike to ask better questions about what matters most. It remains one of the most widely read and influential books on aging, dying, and the limits of modern medicine.
- When a Loved One Is Dying: Conversations About Care, Connection, and Coping by Maureen Groden, RN (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2026) Written by a hospice nurse and educator with over 30 years of experience, this book uses real patient and family stories to walk readers through the emotional and practical realities of end-of-life care. Groden clarifies the differences between palliative and hospice care, addresses common fears and misconceptions, and offers concrete guidance for families facing serious illness.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Life Choices, or Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials”” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Code Status: Clearly Communicating the Nuances of Emergency Care Options (HLOL #272) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Christopher R. Trudeau is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Chris builds upon his extensive background in health literacy, plain-language communication, and healthcare regulation to now explore how generative AI tools like ChatGPT Health are reshaping how people understand and act on health information. While well-aware of potential risks and benefits of this technology, Chris is looking for ways that AI can support human decision-making rather than replace it. Chris shares that work publicly at Trudeau.ai.
Listen as Chris Trudeau and Helen Osborne discuss:
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) and AI Health. What these technologies are, how they have evolved in recent years.
- Benefits (actual, and potential) of such technology.
- Risks (actual, and potential) of such technology.
- What those of us who care about health literacy can do now when it comes to AI and AI Health.
More Ways to Learn:
- Trudeau.ai
- “AI Literacy Is Becoming a Health Equity Issue: What Economist Impact’s New Roadmap Reveals,” by Christopher Trudeau, posted on January 17, 2026
- “ChatGPT Health: Why Health Literacy Now Requires AI Literacy,” by Christopher Trudeau posted on January 8, 2026
- Lawyers Can Help with Health Literacy, Too. HLOL podcast interview with Christopher Trudeau
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Technology E-health” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
The post Health Literacy and AI (HLOL #271) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Jennifer Harvey MD, FACR is Professor and Chair of Imaging Sciences at the University of Rochester in New York. Prior to this, she was Professor of Radiology at the University of Virginia Health System where she led the division of Breast Imaging and the Breast Care Program. Dr. Harvey served as the breast imaging section head for the American Institute of Radiologic Pathology and continues as faculty. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Harvey is a well-published researcher, lecturer, and journal editor. Her book, Making the Diagnosis: A Practical Approach to Breast Imaging, has been translated into 4 languages.
Listen as Dr. Harvey talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The role of radiologists in breast care.
- Talking with patients about bad news. This might happen in-person, by phone, or in advance of patients seeing their results on a portal.
- Strategies for making bad news easier for patients to hear and physicians to discuss.
More Ways to Learn:
- Making the Diagnosis: A Practical Approach to Breast Imaging, by Jennifer Harvey and David E March, published by Saunders.
· “Breaking Bad News: A Primer for Radiologists in Breast Imaging.” Harvey, Jennifer A. et al. Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 4, Issue 11, 800 – 808 “New Protocol Helps Radiologists Navigate Difficult Conversations: Framework offers seven-stop approach to delivering sensitive results with clarity and compassion,” by Melissa Silverberg, RSNA*, Dec 05, 2025. * Dense Breast-info.org
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “You: Compassion, Empathy, and Humanity” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Talking with Patients about Bad News (HLOL #270) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Samantha Sobie DNP, APRN, NNP-BC is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Specialist at AngelEye Health. She has over a decade of experience working in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Units). Samantha’s doctoral work focused on assessing health literacy and improving the NICU discharge process. Today, she combines her clinical expertise with digital innovation to support families and care teams during the NICU journey.
Listen as Samantha Sobie and Helen Osborne talk about:
- Neonatal teaching. Communicating essential information at a time when parents may be feeling stunned, traumatized, and overwhelmed.
- The 5 Rights of Medication Administration. A framework that can be adapted to teaching parents in the NICU. These include right education, right dose, right patient/caregiver, right route, and right time.
- Examples of ways to apply this teaching framework in other settings including community services, public health, and other aspects of clinical care.
More ways to learn:
- Follow the 5 “Rs” of Medication Safety. While this topic is covered in many textbooks, Sobie likes this article from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as it highlights how parents can effectively give medications at home and how caregivers can support them.
- AngelEye Health NICU2Home. How AngelEye Health leverages technology to reinforce the 5 rights of medication administration and apply these rights to family education.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Know Your Audience: Children and Youth” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Neonatal Teaching: Health Literacy Lessons for Us All (HLOL #269) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Eli Gerard has worked with Canine Companions for nearly a decade, including five years as a trainer. He now serves as the Program Field Representative for the Northeast Region. Eli assists with all aspects of the program including puppy raising support, placement of dogs released from the program, and direct work with clients. He brings to this his experience working in special education and enjoyment of many outdoor activities.
Jennifer Johnson has worked as a Child Life Specialist at Sutter Health in California for over 30 years. Most of that time, she specialized in pediatric oncology, supporting children and families as they navigate the significant stress and challenges of cancer treatment. In 2004, Jennifer became a Canine Companions graduate with her first facility dog, Millie. Together, they were pioneers in integrating facility dogs into the pediatric units at Sutter Health. Jennifer has worked with several dogs since, including her newest one, Bill. There are now 16 facility dog graduate teams across the Sutter Health system. As Jennifer shares, the positive impact of these dogs is truly powerful medicine.
Eli Gerard and Jennifer Johnson talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Canine Companions. A non-profit organization that provides trained service dogs and ongoing support to people with disabilities free of charge.
- Service dogs. Breeds of dogs, their training, and acquired skills.
- Facility dogs. How they help in inpatient and outpatient pediatric care.
- Ways for listeners to get involved through volunteering or perhaps even using facility dogs in their settings.
More ways to learn:
- Canine Companions
- Sutter Health Animal-Assisted Therapy
Videos:
- Making an Impact with Canine Companions
- Canine Companions Facility Dogs at Sutter Health
- How to Approach a Service Dog in Public
Social Media:
- @canineorg
- @SutterFacilityDogs
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Community Connections” is especially relevant to this podcast episode.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Canine Companions and Facility Dogs in Healthcare (HLOL #268) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Tamara Huntley is a licensed social worker and passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. Born with cerebral palsy, Tamara serves as the Self-Advocacy Liaison for the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and contributes to research through Brandeis University’s Bridges Project. Tamara is a widow and proud single mother of two. Professionally and personally, Tamara’s commitment is to create a more inclusive world.
Joanne Nicholson, PhD is a clinical and research psychologist, Professor at the Institute for Behavioral Health at Brandeis University, and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the UMass Chan Medical School. Joanne’s research focuses on interventions, services, and support for families living with behavioral health conditions and disability. Joanne always partners with whose who bring lived experience. The PCORI-funded Bridges Project team, an active collaboration between Brandeis and partners at the Harvard Medical School Countway Library, includes mothers living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and focuses on promoting “Research Better Together.”
Listen as Tamara Huntley and Joanne Nicholson talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Disabilities can include people with intellectual, physical and mental health challenges. Often, disabilities affect communication.
- Recommendations about ways to communicate clearly and respectfully with people who have disabilities.
- The value to everyone when partnering with people who bring lived experience whether in clinical care, research, or community settings.
More Ways to Learn:
- “Mothers with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Behavioral Health Conditions and Community Experts Provide Recommendations for Treatment/Services, Systems, and Research.” By Nicholson J, Mazel S, Faughnan K, Silverman A. Int J Environ Res Public Health, May 19, 2023.
- Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. All the chapters about “Know Your Audience” are relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Communicating Clearly with People Who Have Disabilities (HLOL #267) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Dr Caroline Foreman B.Sc BMBS FRACP is a clinical immunology and allergy specialist, with a special interest in the communication of allergies. As Medical Director of the not-for-profit foundation MedicAlert Australia, Caroline provides clinical oversight and guidance to ensure that this foundation maintains its high clinical standards.
Listen as Dr Caroline Foreman talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Emergency health information. A simplified medical history that prioritizes information about what to do and not do in an emergency.
- How this information helps first responders, doctors, and patients.
- Ways patients can be their own advocate even in an emergency by sharing essential health information with MedicAlert’s scannable QR code.
More ways to learn:
- How MedicAlert’s QR code works (video demonstration on youtube)
- When Patients Create Their Own Binders: A Powerful Way to Get Organized and Feel More in Control. Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Bridget Gaglio
Information about MedicAlert in Australia:
- Trusted Medical ID and Alert Jewellery by MedicAlert®
- MedicAlert’s QR ID Code
- MedicAlert Foundation Australia | Facebook
- MedicAlert Australia (@medicalert.au) • Instagram photos and videos
Information about MedicAlert in USA:
- MedicAlert Foundation
- QR Code Medical IDs, MedicAlert Foundation
Information about MedicAlert in Canada:
- MedicAlert Foundation Canada | We Speak When You Can’t
- MedicAlert’s New +CARD
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Community Connections” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Emergency Health Information (HLOL #266) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Liz Seegert is an award-winning, independent journalist. Liz has written about health for more than 30 years. Her main beats include aging, women’s health, social determinants of health, and health policy. Liz’s articles have appeared in dozens of national and local media outlets including Scientific American, TIME, The American Journal of Nursing, and Web MD/Medscape. Liz is the contributing editor on aging and health equity for the Association of Healthcare Journalists (AHCJ). She also co-directs two fellowship programs–mentoring and training emerging journalists in aging and in health reporting.
Listen as Liz Seegert talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Narrative Journalism. What it is and how narrative journalism uses real-life stories to make points clear and compelling.
- Ways to include elements of narrative journalism in messages about health, public health, and health advocacy.
- Recommendations from a journalist. These include tips for working with sources who let you share their stories. And examples of ways to respond when editors, lawyers, and others comment on your writing.
More ways to learn:
- Liz Seegert: Health Journalist/Writer
- Liz Seegert on LinkedIn
- Liz Seegert on Bluesky
- Association of Health Care Journalists Age Beat
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “General Public: Traditional Media” is especially relevant to this podcast
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Narrative Journalism: Stories to Make Points Clear and Compelling (HLOL #265) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Today’s two guests are leaders of the new United States Health Literacy Association (USHLA).
- Karen Komondor, RN, BSN, CCRN, is the co-founder and president of USHLA. Recognized for her ongoing leadership and expertise in health literacy, Karen’s passion for this topic comes from knowing why, both personally and professionally, understandable health communication matters so much. Karen is Founder and President of Health Literacy 360, LLC, a consulting and training firm that focuses on enhancing healthcare communication practices. In all her work, Karen builds on collaboration to expand the boundaries of health literacy.
- Monique Hill, MSW, is the Secretary of USHLA. She also is the Founder and Lead Consultant of HELP Solutions, a health equity consulting firm launched in 2022. Prior to this, Monique served as an Associate Professor and Health Literacy and Partnership Engagement Advisor for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Region 2. Monique’s ongoing mission is to ensure that every community has the tools, understanding, and support to take charge of their health.
Helen Osborne talks with Karen Komondor and Monique Hill about:
- United States Health Literacy Association (USHLA) is a national, grassroots, non-profit organization. Its focus is to be “policy-powered” and “advocacy-driven.”
- USHLA is designed as a dynamic forum where individuals and organizations can connect, collaborate, take action, and share resources to advance health literacy. It is about building synergy, rather than remaining in silos.
- Opportunities and encouragement to get involved with USHLA.
More ways to learn:
- United States Health Literacy Association (USHLA)
- Health Literacy 360, LLC (Karen Komondor)
- Health Equity & Literacy Partnership (HELP) Solutions (Monique Hill)
- Health Literacy definitions in Healthy People 2030
- “The Value of Knowing Why Health Literacy Matters,” HLOL podcast interview with Karen Komondor
- “Learning and Teaching about Health & Insurance,” HLOL podcast interview with Bonnie Braun
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post U.S. Health Literacy Association: From Silos to Synergy (HLOL #264) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Helen is taking a break to recover from back surgery, so we’re re-running some classic episodes. Here’s one from 2024.
Rear Admiral (RDML) Paul Reed, MD is the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a pediatrician, and a senior U.S. Public Health Service Officer. His primary responsibility is to advise the Assistant Secretary for Health on disease prevention and health promotion programs and policies. Additionally, RDML Reed provides direction and oversight for national health initiatives such as Healthy People 2030, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
In this podcast, RDML Paul Reed talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Finding health in context of people’s lives including in the environments where they live, work, play, grow, and age.
- Reframing health in terms of vital conditions for well-being and justice.
- Building resilience within communities and encouraging citizens to flex their “civic muscles” so as to help everyone reach their full potential.
More ways to Learn:
- Health.gov. Includes important links to health literacy information and resources. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- Health Literacy in Healthy People 2030. Includes the health literacy definitions and objectives in this U.S. public health initiative. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being Framework, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- “Health and Well-Being Begin with Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 12, 2021
- “Organizations Have an Opportunity to Enhance Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 25, 2022.
- “Living Artful Lives to Enhance Health and Well-Being”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, March 28, 2023.
- “Establishing Equitable Resilience Requires Shared Stewardship”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, January 30, 2023
- “Akron-Summit County Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Educational Opportunities for Community Members”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, December 5, 2022
- “Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry and Healthy People: Repairing Homes to Help Ensure Safety and Independence”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, November 9, 2022.
- “Sacramento Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Health Literacy to Meet Community Members’ Needs”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, October 26, 2022.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast are the chapters, “Community Connections,” “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy,” and “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Re-Airing: Health in the Context of People’s Lives (HLOL #263) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Helen is taking a break to recover from back surgery, so we’re re-running some classic episodes. Here’s one from 2019.
Bridget Gaglio PhD, MPH is a Senior Program Officer for the Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science program at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). She works to improve communication and dissemination of evidence-based information among patients and their healthcare providers. Gaglio has published papers on patient-centered communication, health literacy, and dissemination and implementation of health interventions. But this podcast isn’t about that. Rather, it’s about experiences and lessons Bridget and Helen each learned as patients.
In this podcast, Helen Osborne talks with Bridget Gaglio about:
- Becoming a patient can happen in a moment, whether from an accident or unexpected diagnosis. Some reasons that communication can be very hard, even for patients who are good readers and savvy about health.
- Why to create your own medical binder and what to include. How such binders (on paper, electronic, or both) can help patients feel empowered and more in control.
- Tips, suggestions, and lessons learned for patients and providers, alike.
More Ways to Learn:
- PCORI’s Advisory Panel on Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science.
- “Health Literacy—An Important Element in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research,”by Bridget Gaglio, published in The Journal of Health Communication, September 26, 2016.
- “Health Literacy Out Loud podcast, “After Visit Summaries (HLOL #152).”An interview with Alex Federman, MD, MPH. July 1, 2016.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (updated 2018),by Helen Osborne. Chapter 5 is especially relevant to this podcast, “Communicating When Patients Feel Scared, Sick, and Overwhelmed.”
Read the transcript of this podcast.
The post Re-Airing: When Patients Create Their Own Medical Binders: A Powerful Way to Get Organized and Feel More in Control (HLOL #262) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Leslie J. Pelton, MPA is a senior program officer at The John A. Hartford Foundation, where she oversees grants that are transforming care for older adults and family caregivers through the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement. Prior to this, Leslie was vice president at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, where she collaborated with funders, national partners and leading health systems to design and spread Age-Friendly Health Systems. As of May 2025, more than 5,200 hospitals, medical practices, nursing homes, clinics, and home health care agencies, this movement is committed to delivering evidence-based care to reduce harm and align with what matters to older patients and their caregivers.
Listen as Leslie Pelton talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Age-Friendly Health Systems. What these systems are, where they happen, why they matter throughout the continuum of care
- The essential 4Ms of Age-Friendly Health Systems: 1) What Matters 2) Medication 3) Mentation 4) Mobility
- How clinicians, older adults, family caregivers, healthcare facilities, community organizations and others can routinely use the 4Ms of age-friendly care
More ways to learn:
- Age-Friendly Health Systems
- My Health Checklist
- The John A. Hartford Foundation
- IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement)
- Care Compare: Doctors and Clinicians Initiative (CMS)
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Know Your Audience: Older Adults” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Age-Friendly Health Systems (HLOL #261) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Doris Zallen, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Science Studies and Humanities at Virginia Tech. Her research explores personal, family, and societal issues arising from advances in genetic testing and gene therapy. Zallen is the author of two books about genetic testing and is developing an online tool to help people make informed choices about testing. Zallen always draws from the experiences of genetic professionals along with everyday people making decisions about whether to have genetic testing.
Jamie Tyrone has been a patient advocate for many years after accidently learning that she has the gene that puts her at high risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Ever since, Tyrone’s advocacy has taken many forms including as a research participant, co-author, and member of several professional committees. Tyrone wrote a book about her experience, Fighting for My Life – How to Thrive in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s.
Listen as Doris Zallen, Jamie Tyrone, and Helen Osborne discuss:
- Genetic tests. What these tests are, why they often are used, ways to get tested within or outside of a clinical setting.
- Jamie Tyrone’s story as an example of what went so wrong after having a direct-to-consumer genetic test and then learning the results.
- How genetic test results can affect a person’s future health decisions, family, and finances.
- Tips for making a reasoned choice about whether to get tested along with strategies to more clearly communicate about genetic testing.
More ways to learn:
- Does It Run in the Family?: A Consumer’s Guide to DNA Testing for Genetic Disorders, by Doris Zallen, Rutgers University Press,1997.
- To Test or Not To Test: A Guide to Genetic Screening and Risk, by Doris Zallen, Rutgers University Press, 2008.
- Fighting for My Life: How to Thrive in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s, by Jamie Tyrone, Harper Collins, 2019.
- “Disclosing Individual Results in Dementia Research: A Proposed Study Participant’s Bill of Rights,” J Alzheimers Disease, 2022. By Walter S, Taylor A, Tyrone J, Langer S, Pagan J-R, Hummel CH, Wheaton BM, Zallen DT, Rosen AC.
- AGREEDementia: Advisory Group on Risk Education for Dementia
- “Return of Individual Results,” from the MRCT (Multi-Regional Clinical Trials) Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard.
- Gene Test or Not? This online tool is designed to help decide whether or not to get tested for your genetic risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It spells out specific personal, family, and societal issues to consider when deciding about any particular form of genetic testing.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Live Choices, or Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Genetic Testing; Conversation with a Researcher and Patient Advocate (HLOL #260) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Karel van der Waarde is an information designer based in Belgium. His projects often focus on medication information that is given to patients by doctors and pharmacists. Karel teaches about information design to audiences worldwide. He is active in many professional associations including the International Institute for Information Design (IIID). He also was part of the team that developed the 2023 International ISO standards for plain language (ISO 24495).
Listen as Karel van der Waarde talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Is health literacy essentially about the ability of people or the ability of information? How health literacy often goes beyond these binary choices. Context and everyday distractions should also be considered.
- The importance of designing materials with people who will use this information. This process starts by learning about their needs and continues through user testing to measure effectiveness.
- Tips and resources for clinicians, designers, community agencies, and everyone who wants to clearly communicate about health.
More ways to learn:
- Karel van der Waarde
- “Enabling patients by listening to them,” a TEDxHSLU talk by Karel van der Waarde
- International Institute for Information Design (IIID)
- ISO plain language standard, from the International Plain Language Federation
- “Using Design to Get Readers to Read and Keep Reading,” a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Karen Schriver
- “How Visual Cues Help Readers Read,” a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Josiah Fisk
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapters “Document Design” and “Plain Language” are especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Discussing Health Literacy with an Information Designer (HLOL #259) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Cheryl Lekousi is the Executive Director of the Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troup based in Needham, MA. In her work as a clown, Cheryl is referred to as “Tic Toc.” Building on anextensive background in special needs education and early child development, Cheryl now makes clown visits to pediatric hospital units, memory care facilities for older adults, and a range of community events for ill and disabled children.
Kenny Raskin is the Artistic Director of Hearts & Noses, training the troupe in clowning skills, partnering, and sensitivity to hospital staff and patients and their families. As a clown, Kenny is known as “Dr. Mensch.” Kenny is recognized internationally for his skills as a physical comedian and clown. He has performed in numerous films, circuses, television shows, and stage productions. Kenny even was the comic sidekick of the villain Gaston in the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Cheryl Lekousi and Kenny Raskin talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Medical clowns: What they do, who they are, ways clowns can help.
- Stories and examples of medical clowns in action across the lifespan.
- Lessons learned for the rest of us about bringing some joy and humanity to otherwise stressful medical situations.
More ways to learn more:
- Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe
- Michael Christensen: Clown, Juggler, Circus Director
- “Clown Doctors as a Treatment for Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Randomized, Prospective Study”, by Vagnoli et al, Pediatrics, 2005.
- Medical Clowning: The Healing Performance, by Amnon Raviv
- New Perspectives on Medical Clowning: Clown Doctors in COVID-19, Wartime, and the Everyday, by Amnon Raviv
- Beyond the Red Nose, The Serious Business of Healthcare Clowning, by Tiffany Riley
- The Clown Doctor Chronicles, by Caroline Simonds & Bernie Warren
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Zest and Pizzazz” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Medical Clowns: A Dose of Joy for Patients of All Ages (HLOL #258) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Christopher Pizzute, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, is a music psychotherapist who works in inpatient and outpatient services at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. His expertise extends to palliative, psychiatric, geriatric, pediatric, and neonatal care. Christopher is also a songwriter, artist, and video game advocate whose work now extends to exploring the benefit of video game music as part of music therapy.
Listen as Christopher Pizzute and Helen Osborne talk about:
- The importance of music throughout the life cycle.
- Examples of using music to support patient care.
- Some ways to include music in healthcare and community settings.
More ways to learn more:
- Mount Sinai Health System, The Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy
- “The Effects of Music Therapy on Vital Signs, Feeding, and Sleep in Premature Infants,”Loewy J et al, Pediatrics, May 2013.
- https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/loewylab/ ‘The Loewy Laboratory’ Research website for the Louis Armstrong Department for Music Therapy
- American Music Therapy Association
- “Teaching & Singing About Health in South Africa,” HLOL podcast interview with village health workers.
- “Mache Seibel Talks about Using Music and Song,” HLOL podcast interview with Mache Seibel, MD.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Zest and Pizzazz” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Using Music to Support Patient Care (HLOL #257) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Today’s episode is a re-airing of an important podcast first posted in 2009. It is my conversation with the husband-and-wife team of Cecelia (Cici) and Leonard (Len) Doak. The field of health literacy as we know it today builds on the strong foundation of research, practice, and advocacy that began with the Doaks. While both of them have since passed on, it is well worthwhile to listen as Len & Ceci share why health literacy mattered decades ago and why it remains so important today.
Cecelia (Ceci) Doak started as a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service. During her more 20 years there, Ceci developed and led numerous health education programs. In fact, she received a commendation from the Surgeon General for her work educating the public about cancer.
Leonard (Len) Doak comes to health literacy via adult education, volunteering for many years as a tutor of non-readers. Len’s first career was as a Navy engineer and among his many accomplishments he helped simplify instructions for crews working on ships and submarines.
Len and Ceci, along with their co-author Jane Root, wrote the landmark book first published in 1985, Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills. Len and Ceci wrote guidelines for many important projects and analyzed the suitability of over 2,000 healthcare materials. They presented at more than 200 health literacy workshops, training thousands of health professionals in all disciplines.
Len and Ceci Doak talk with Helen Osborne about:
- How health literacy began more than 30 years ago
- Why health literacy was important then, and is even more so today
- Strategies to improve communication and assess understanding
- Ceci & Len Doak’s vision for health literacy in the future
More ways to learn:
Doak, Doak, & Root, Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills, Second Edition, 1996. Now available on Internet Archive.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “About Health Literacy” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post HLOL #256: Len & Ceci Doak Discuss Health Literacy’s Past, Present and Future appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Adena Dacy, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist. For many years, she worked with people of all ages who have communication disabilities. Dacy now is an Associate Director on the Health Care Services Team at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her areas of interest include health literacy and access to quality care for people with speech, language, voice, hearing and/or cognitive difficulties.
Judy Crane had a long and successful career in medical services and sales. This work was abruptly cut short when she had a dissected aorta followed by a stroke. One of her residual effects is post-stroke aphasia. Crane is now an active advocate for people with aphasia and serves on numerous committees and programs as a patient advisor, volunteer, and staff member. In 2021, Judy Crane was awarded the Stroke Survivor Hero Award by the American Stroke Association.
Listen as Adena Dacy and Judy Crane talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Communication disabilities. What this term means, who it includes, and how these disabilities can affect people across the lifespan.
- Judy’s story of how communication disabilities can affect a person’s health understanding and outcomes.
- Strategies to help make health conversations accessible to all. These are part of ASHA’s Communication ACCESS campaign: Ask, Communicate directly, Confirm understanding, Eliminate distractions, Slow down, Support interactions.
More ways to learn:
- ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
- ACCESS: Better Health Starts with Effective Communication
- National Aphasia Association
- “Health literacy interventions in adult speech and language therapy: A scoping review,” by McKenna V.B. and Gilheaney O., published in Health Expectations, 2023.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Communication Disabilities: Making Conversations Accessible to All (HLOL #255) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Viju Jacob, MD, FAAP is the Medical Director and Vice President of Medical Affairs at a large Federally Qualified Health Center in Bronx, NYC. His day-to-day work includes oversight of 12 school-based health practices, 2 family practice sites, and 6 school-based dental practices. Dr. Jacob also focuses on regulatory and policy aspects of school-based healthcare at both a statewide and national level. As a new immigrant himself, Viju was user of a School-Based Health Center, having received some of his earliest dental care from the School-Based Dental Clinic at PS 8 in the North Bronx.
In this podcast, Dr. Viju Jacob talks with Helen Osborne about:
- School-based health centers: What they are, who they treat, how they help children and families.
- Health literacy in action. The intersection of these centers with education, clinical care, public health, and community services.
- Looking ahead at the potential of school-based health centers.
More ways to learn:
- New York School-Based Health Foundation
- New York School-Based Health Alliance
- School-Based Health Allliance: The National Voice for School-Based Health Care
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Community Connections” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post School-Based Health Centers: Health Literacy in Action (HLOL #254) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Ted Hartwell is Executive Director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. The mission of this Council is to generate awareness, promote education, and advocate for quality treatment of problem gambling in the state of Nevada. Ted is in long-term recovery from his own gambling disorder and has been advocating on this issue for over 15 years. Ted also is a professional cellist with the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
In this podcast, Ted Hartwell talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Gambling disorder. What this term means, who it most affect, and why gambling disorder is now getting increased attention.
- Suggestions for listeners about ways to help. Listeners include clinicians, public health folks, and those working in community agencies.
- Tips for family, friends, parents, employers, and any of us who are dealing with or concerned about gambling disorders.
More ways to learn:
- Nevada Council on Problem Gambling
- Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, When the Fun Stops
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- Problem Gambling Helpline. Call: 1-800-GAMBLER; Text: 800-GAM; Chat: 1800GAMBLERchat.org
- International Center for Responsible Gaming
- Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS), from the Cambridge Health Alliance Division on Addiction.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Chapters especially relevant to this podcast are “Community Connections” and “Know Your Audience: Emotions, Cognition, and Behavioral Health.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Gambling Disorders and Other Addictions (HLOL #253) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Cliff Coleman, MD, MPH, is a physician and international expert in the field of health literacy. His award-winning work focuses on improving health literacy and clear communication training for healthcare professionals through systems approaches, including curriculum design and evaluation.
Coleman is Professor of Family Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine and serves as Clinical Thread Director for education on health communication, professionalism, and ethics. He is the inaugural Doris and Mark Storms Endowed Chair in Compassionate Communication at OHSU’s Center for Ethics in Health Care. Coleman also chairs the OHSU Health Literacy Workgroup which aims to help OHSU become a health literate organization.
In this podcast, Dr. Cliff Coleman talks with Helen Osborne about:
· Health information equity. What it is, why it matters, who it most affects.
· Strategies to use in everyday communication and at a policy level.
· Why health information equity matters now, and will in years ahead.
More ways to learn:
· Health Literacy and Systemic Racism—Using Clear Communication to Reduce Health Care Inequities, by Coleman C, Birk S, DeVoe J, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, June 26, 2023
· Telemedicine: Communicating About Health by Phone or 2-Way Video, a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Dr. Cliff Coleman
· Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 3rd Edition, from AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
· National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, from the CDC
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy” is especially relevant to this podcast.
The post Health Information Equity: Equal Access to Information that is High-Quality, Understandable, and Usable (HLOL #252) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Cynthia Baur, Ph.D., is the Endowed Chair and Director of the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health. Baur is widely recognized as a health communication expert whose work focuses on improving health literacy at the individual, family, community, and organizational levels.
Prior to this position, Cynthia Baur spent nearly two decades focusing on issues of health communication, health literacy, and health policy at U.S. Federal agencies including the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) where she was its Plain Language and Health Literacy Lead.
In 2022, Cynthia Baur and many others worked closely with Maryland lawmakers to designate the Horowitz Center as their state’s consumer health information hub. This huge accomplishment is a shining example of creating a “health literate state,” making health literacy happen statewide.
In this podcast, Cynthia Baur talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub. What this project is, how and why it came about.
- How this Information Hub is fulfilling the vision of the U.S. National Action Plan for Health Literacy for all residents in Maryland.
- Suggestions about ways to make health literacy policy a part of everyday practice.
More Ways to Learn:
- Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub
- Horowitz Center for Health Literacy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health
- National Action Plan for Health Literacy, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Cynthia Baur
- CDC’s Clear Communication Index, a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Cynthia Baur
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Putting Health Literacy Policy into Practice: How the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub is Making This Happen (HLOL #251) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Joana Andoh, MD, is an ophthalmology resident at The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Andoh has a long-standing passion for both the sciences and humanities. Her interests include social determinants of diabetic retinopathy, domestic violence-related ocular injuries, and geographic healthcare disparities. Dr. Andoh is passionate about using scientific and narrative writing to elevate marginalized communities.
In this podcast, Dr. Joana Andoh talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Family health history. What it includes and ways that patients are asked about their family’s history including by written checklists and office conversations.
- Why family history is important in diagnosis, treatment, and care.
- Problems getting a complete and accurate family health history.
- Examples of ways that patients, families, and clinicians can discuss and learn from histories of generational health.
More ways to learn:
- “The Stories We Don’t Know,” by Joana E. Andoh, MD. Published in JAMA, April 13, 2023.
- Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Two chapters that are especially relevant to this podcast are “Patient & Family Perspective,” and “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy.”
The post Family Health History: The Value of Learning about Generational Health (HLOL #250) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Karen Foster is the Executive Director of All Out Adventures based in Massachusetts. Prior to being appointed as its Executive Director, Karen worked for this organization as a program leader. She has also been a 9th grade history teacher and school-based program administrator. Karen is certified to teach coastal kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, and has experience leading many other outdoor recreation programs. Beyond all these accomplishments, Karen is the former Vice President of the City Council and currently a member of the School Committee in her hometown of Northampton, MA.
In this podcast, Karen Foster talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Recreation can bring joy to everyone’s lives. It is a way for people of all ages and abilities to connect with their own bodies and each other.
- Reasons that some people are reluctant to participate in recreation. And ways to address and help overcome this reluctance whether it comes from the individual, their family or caregiver, or the community.
- Resources and suggestions to help make recreation accessible to all.
More ways to learn:
- All Out Adventures: Outdoor recreation for people of all abilities
- Health in Context of People’s Lives. Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Rear Admiral Paul Reed who talks about the importance of finding health in context of the environments in which people live, work, play, grow, and age.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Chapters especially relevant to this podcast are “Community Connections” and “Zest and Pizzazz.”
The post Accessible Recreation for All (HLOL #249) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Molly Lynch, MPH, and Linda Squiers, PhD, both work within the Communication Practice Area at RTI International. Lynch has over 15 years of experience developing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs with a focus on health literacy. She now directs RTI’s Audience Engagement Research Program. This includes using human-centered design principles to engage audiences in the development of communication products and interventions.
Squiers has over 30 years of experience in health communication research. She focuses on developing and testing health communication messages and interventions for print materials, videos, campaigns, and other online tools. Squiers is a Senior Health Communication Scientist at RTI.
Molly Lynch and Linda Squiers talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) and extreme low literacy (ELL). Why it is important to create materials specific to this audience.
- Creating these materials goes beyond plain language. It also includes using evidence-based best practices that focus on behaviors, sentences, words and numbers, text layout, and visuals.
- Information about a guide to help you develop materials and a tool to check how well your materials follow these guidelines.
More ways to learn:
- How to Develop Products for Adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities and Extreme Low Literacy: A Product Development Tool. Published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- “Building Evidence for Principles to Guide the Development of Products for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Extreme Low Literacy–A Product Development Tool.” By Squiers L, Lynch MM, et al. Published in Healthcare, June 14, 2023.
- The CDC Clear Communication Index
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Know Your Audience: Emotions, Cognition, and Behavioral Health” is especially relevant to this podcast.
The post Developing Materials for Adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities and Extreme Low Literacy (HLOL #248) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Rohini Khillan, MPH, has been working in the field of public health policy for over a decade in both federal agencies and large nonprofit organizations. While her focus is primarily on issues of aging and disability, Rohini has worked on a variety of topics that include access to care and socioeconomic disparities. Much of her work centers on making complex health topics accessible to a variety of lay audiences through written materials and in-person communication.
In this podcast, Rohini Khillan talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Assume that your audience is already somewhat savvy and knowledgeable about this topic and now interested in clarification.
- Treat your audience like a close friend. Respect their lived experiences, preferences, and habits.
- Always err on the side of inclusivity when it comes to ability and age.
More ways to learn:
- Health in Context of People’s Lives. Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Rear Admiral Paul Reed, MD.
- Building Trust with Each Audience. Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Lenora Johnson, DrPH, MPH
- Communicating Complex Health Messages in a Complex World. Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Glen Nowak, PhD.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Chapters that especially relate to this podcast include “Patient & Family Perspective,” “Health Equity in the Context of Health
The post Start by Assuming Your Audience is Smart and Savvy (HLOL #247) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Cindy Brach was the lead for health literacy and cultural competence at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and co-chaired the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Literacy Workgroup. Brach led the creation of many important health literacy tools and resources including the AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, the discussion paper, “Ten Attributes of a Health Literate Health Care Organization,” from the Roundtable on Health Literacy, and PEMAT, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool.Now retired, Brach reflects on the evolution of the field of health literacy.
In this podcast, Cindy Brach talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Perspective about how health literacy has changed over time. Health literacy began with a realization that written materials were too hard to understand. Soon after, it also looked at spoken communication. Once value-based care came along, patient engagement became a key focus. The goal for many organizations now is to address health literacy systematically and become health literate organizations.
- Developing effective, evidence-based tools to help. Once organizations became aware that there was a problem, they sought tools and strategies to help. AHRQ took a lead role in developing many of them. You can learn more on AHRQ health literacy website and access the AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 3rd
- Vision and hope for what’s ahead. While a lot has been accomplished in health literacy, there is still more work ahead. In Brach’s opinion, that includes research about which interventions are most effective, how best to implement them, and what organizations get in return for being health literate. It also includes an increased focus on health literacy strategies to promote health equity.
More ways to learn:
- AHRQ Health Literacy website, with tools and resources, including the AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 3rd
- “Ten Attributes of Health Literate Health Care Organizations,” from the Roundtable on Health Literacy, and AHRQ tools to implement the attributes.
- The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and User’s Guide
- “New Directions for Health Literacy Research,” by Weiss BD, Abrams MA, Mansfield ED, and Sorensen K. Published in HLRP (Health Literacy Research and Practice), December, 2023.
- “PEMAT: Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (HLOL #109),” a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Cindy Brach.
- “Attributes of Health Literacy Organizations (HLOL #82),” a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Cindy Brach.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Many chapters are relevant to this podcast including “About Health Literacy,” “Assessment Tools for Health Literacy,” “Assessment tools for Readability” and “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Cindy Brach Talks About the Evolution of Health Literacy (HLOL #246) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Aditya Tummala and Beier Nelson are Co-Founders and Executive Directors of The Health Fluency Project. Their goal is to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) and other technology to help dismantle barriers that prevent people from accessing health services. Tummala is an undergrad student at Harvard College studying Biomedical Engineering. His primary focus is on socioeconomic disparities that act as health care barriers in rural and marginalized communities. Nelson is also an undergrad at Harvard College. With a dual concentration in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Government, he is looking at community-based barriers to care.
Tummala and Nelson talk with Helen Osborne about:
- Language, culture, and other differences between patients and providers that can make it even harder to effectively communicate about health.
- Ways to help make this communication easier for everyone. That includes exciting possibilities for using AI and other technology.
- Tips, suggestions, and resources to start using now.
More ways to learn:
- The Health Fluency Project
- “To Advance Health Equity for Patients With Limited English Proficiency, Go Beyond Interpreter Services,” by Nelson B, Tu L, Cody Stanford F. Published in Health Affairs Forefront, October 23, 2023.
- MD & Me, an AI-based medical communication tool from AuxHealth
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Chapters that especially relate to this podcast include “Know Your Audience: Culture and Language,” and the three chapters about Technology.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Innovative Ideas for Using AI in Health Literacy (HLOL #245) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Rear Admiral (RDML) Paul Reed, MD is the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a pediatrician, and a senior U.S. Public Health Service Officer. His primary responsibility is to advise the Assistant Secretary for Health on disease prevention and health promotion programs and policies. Additionally, RDML Reed provides direction and oversight for national health initiatives such as Healthy People 2030, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
In this podcast, RDML Paul Reed talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Finding health in context of people’s lives including in the environments where they live, work, play, grow, and age.
- Reframing health in terms of vital conditions for well-being and justice.
- Building resilience within communities and encouraging citizens to flex their “civic muscles” so as to help everyone reach their full potential.
More ways to Learn:
- Health.gov. Includes important links to health literacy information and resources. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- Health Literacy in Healthy People 2030. Includes the health literacy definitions and objectives in this U.S. public health initiative. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being Framework, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
- “Health and Well-Being Begin with Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 12, 2021
- “Organizations Have an Opportunity to Enhance Health Literacy”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, October 25, 2022.
- “Living Artful Lives to Enhance Health and Well-Being”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, March 28, 2023.
- “Establishing Equitable Resilience Requires Shared Stewardship”, a blog post by RDML Paul Reed, January 30, 2023
- “Akron-Summit County Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Educational Opportunities for Community Members”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, December 5, 2022
- “Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry and Healthy People: Repairing Homes to Help Ensure Safety and Independence”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, November 9, 2022.
- “Sacramento Public Library and Healthy People: Prioritizing Health Literacy to Meet Community Members’ Needs”, a blog post that is part of Healthy People 2020 in Review, October 26, 2022.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast are the chapters, “Community Connections,” “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy,” and “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Health in Context of People’s Lives (HLOL #244) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Akila Muthukumar graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College with a major in human developmental and regenerative biology and a minor in English. Muthukumar helped establish and lead a question-listing service at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She also has done a lot of writing, including for the health and medicine website, STAT News. She hopes to combine these interests as a physician-writer. This year, Muthukumar is living in rural south India (where she recorded this podcast) and working at a nonprofit dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities.
In this podcast, Akila Muthukumar talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Helping patients make a list of questions to ask at upcoming medical appointments.
- Strategies to help patients think of, and organize, their questions.
- Ways that this question list can benefit patients, providers, and students
More ways to learn:
- “The question list is a simple way to help patients prepare for appointments,” by Akila Muthukuma Valliammai, Leigh Simmons, and Karen Sepucha, STAT News, First Opinion. September 5, 2023.
- UCSF: The Patient Support Corps
- “Decision Support for Patients Making Life-Changing Choices (HLOL #49),” a Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Jeff Belkora.
- “Questions Are the Answer to Helping Patients Understand Their Health,” by Helen Osborne. Published in On Call Magazine, June 25, 2008.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Question-Asking” is especially relevant to this podcast.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Helping Patients Prepare Lists of Questions to Ask at Medical Appointments (HLOL #243) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Katie Leath MPH, MA, is Director of the Center for Health Literacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Leath is a passionate health communicator who brings years of experience in making health information easy to read, understand, and use. She leads a team of health literacy experts who create and edit health-related materials for patients and consumers. Leath brings to all this work her training in marketing, public health, and applied communication studies.
In this podcast, Katie Leath talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The process of taking health materials written in English that already adhere to plain language practices and then translating this information into other languages while also adhering to plain language practices.
- Teaching translators about plain language so that they can apply these practices when working on health information.
- Translating health materials in ways that help readers understand is an important step towards equity and improved health outcomes.
More ways to learn:
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Center for Health Literacy
- Contact the UAMS Center for Health Literacy to learn more about their program for training translators to use plain language. You can also ask to be added to the mailing list for the Center’s blog.
- National Academy of Medicine, “Beyond Translation: Promoting a New National Standard for Equity in Health Materials Translated from English” by Sprager L and Martinez ON.
- Leath mentioned two readability formulas for materials in Spanish. These are the “SOL formula” and “Fernandez Huerta.”
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Chapters that are especially relevant to this podcast are “Know Your Audience: Culture and Language,” and “Plain Language.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Applying Plain Language Principles to Translated Health Materials (HLOL #242) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Richard Lui is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in media, technology, and business. He has served as a television news anchor at MSNBC, NBC News, and CNN Worldwide. Among his many accomplishments, Lui spent 15 years in business, serves on boards at non-profit organizations and for-profit firms, and is an ambassador for non-government organizations (NGO’s) focusing on issues of gender equality and human trafficking. Lui is author of the book Enough About Me and director of two documentary films. His first film SkyBlossom, was inspired by his own long-distance caregiving for his father. The second film Unconditional: When Minds Hurt, Love Heals deals with issues of mental health and family caregiving.
In this podcast, Richard Lui talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The experience of learning about caregiving as a family member. That includes the need to interact with a team of health professionals and develop a plan for the family to address the many aspects of caregiving.
- The decision to create a documentary film about this experience. How the powerful medium of film can highlight what might otherwise be considered as a “ho-hum” topic of family caregiving.
- The importance of educating others that mental health can be a strength, not just a challenge.
More ways to learn:
- Unconditional: When Minds Hurt, Love Heals. This film has been, or soon will be, screened at AMC theatres, Universal Studios, the White House, the US Capital, MSNBC, the United Nations, and the European Parliament. It is available for streaming on multiple platforms including Amazon Prime and PBS Passport.
- SkyBlossom. As described on its website, this is “an inspiring film on children taking care of family living with disabilities.”
- Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness, a book by Richard Lui, published 2021.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, a book by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Patient and Family Perspective.”
Read the transcript of this podcast.
The post Creating a Documentary Film about Caregiving and Mental Health (HLOL #241) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Greg O’Neill, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, is Director of Patient & Family Health Education at ChristianaCare in Delaware. Building on his experience in patient care as a trauma/surgical ICU nurse, O’Neill has developed a team of professionals who champion health literacy best practices systemwide and support all manner of patient education initiatives and vendor relationships.
In this podcast, Greg O’Neill talks with Helen Osborne about:
- A systems perspective of health literacy. The value of looking at health literacy from a high level, considering its many components.
- Components include 3 essential elements: Tools (teaching materials), Skills (health literacy best practices), and People (including leaders and advocates).
- Ways to apply these elements in a variety of settings.
More ways to learn:
- ChristianaCare: Who We Are
- Health Literacy Listening Tour (HLOL #188). Podcast interview with Audrey Riffenburgh.
- Thinking Big About Health Literacy (HLOL #155). Podcast interview with Mary Ann Abrams, Cyndi Hall, and Shelby Chapman.
- Making a Case to Senior Leaders about Health Literacy (HLOL #151). Podcast interview with Barbara Balik.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Organizations: Health Literacy Across Programs, Companies, Communities, and Countries.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Health Literacy from a Systems Perspective (HLOL #240) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Dr. Mark V. Williams serves as Professor & Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine and BJC HealthCare in Saint Louis, Missouri. Dr. Williams established the first hospitalist program in a U.S. public hospital and continues to promote the role of hospitalists as leaders in the delivery of health care. In addition, he is an active researcher whose work focuses on quality improvement, care transitions, teamwork, and the role of health literacy in the delivery of health care.
In this podcast. Mark Williams talks with Helen Osborne about:
- “Inadequate Functional Health Literacy Among Patients at Two Public Hospitals,” published in JAMA 1995, by Williams MV, Parker RM, Baker DW, Pankh NS, Pitkin K, Coates WC, Nurss JR. As the authors noted, this likely “is the first published study to assess the ability of patients to perform the wide range of literacy tasks required to function in the health care environment.”
- Why health literacy mattered so much then, and still does now.
- Examples of ways that clinicians can use health literacy strategies to earn patients’ trust and help people feel cared for, and cared about.
More ways to learn:
- “Inadequate Functional Health Literacy Among Patients at Two Public Hospitals,”published in JAMA 1995, by Williams MV, Parker RM, Baker DW, Pankh NS, Pitkin K, Coates WC, Nurss JR.
- “Inadequate Literacy is a Barrier to Asthma Knowledge and Self-Care,” published in Chest1998, by Williams MV, Baker DW, Honig EG, Lee TM, Nowlan.
- “Relationship of Functional Health Literacy to Patients’ Knowledge of Their Chronic Disease,” published in JAMA 1998, by Williams MV, Baker DW, Parker RM, Nurss JR.
- “The Role of Health Literacy in Patient-Physician Communication,” published in Family Medicine 2002, by Williams MV, Davis, TD, Parker RM, Weiss BD.
- “Embracing carers: when will adult hospitals fully adopt the same practices as children’s hospitals?” published in BMJ 2023, by Williams MV, Li J.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The first chapter, “About Health Literacy” is especially relevant to this podcast.
The post Health Literacy: Helping Patients Feel Cared For, and Cared About” (HLOL #239) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Claire Wardle, PhD, is co-founder and co-director of the Information Futures Lab and Professor of the Practice at Brown University’s School of Public Health. Wardle is considered a leader in the field of misinformation, verification, and user generated content. Among her many accomplishments, Wardle developed an organization-wide training program about eyewitness media for the British Broadcasting […]
The post Artificial Intelligence & Health Communication (HLOL #238) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
LouAnn Bala MSN, RN, brings a background as clinical nurse educator and health coach to her work at Get Well. Her publications and research aim to improve quality and safety for patients, further the study of alternative and lifestyle medicine, and build the case for using technology to improve care delivery. Bala has created numerous […]
The post The Language of Civility (HLOL #237) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D. is President of the National Center for Health Research, a nonprofit think tank that conducts and analyzes research on a wide range of healthcare and health policy issues. She and a team use this research to inform policies and programs that affect the health of adults and children. Among her many accomplishments, Diana Zuckerman has testified about the safety and efficacy of medical and consumer products before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, state legislative committees, and the Canadian Parliament.
In this podcast, Diana Zuckerman talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The growing number of television advertisements in the United States for prescription medications, dietary supplements, and other health products and services.
- Federal regulations regarding these types of direct-to-consumer ads.
- Communication strategies and intentional distractions used in these ads. They include background music and engaging visuals that are inconsistent with spoken words and written warnings.
- Ways to inform others about the downside of these ads.
More ways to learn:
- National Center for Health Research
- S. Food & Drug Administration, The Bad Ad Program to report potentially false or misleading prescription drug promotion.
- S. Federal Trade Commission, Health Products Compliance Guidance
- com, and other sites to search for contraindications.
- DrugWatch, “How to Read a Drug Label”
- Citizen Petition requesting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a rule banning the use of background music during the presentation of the risks in direct to consumer drug advertising.
- Mammograms: Clearly Communicating New Guidelines, Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Diana Zuckerman.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “General Public: Traditional Media.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Television Ads for Medications (HLOL #236) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Karen Komondor RN, BSN, CCRN is passionate about health literacy. This comes from knowing why understandable health communication matters so much to her, both personally and professionally. Karen is Founder and President of Health Literacy 360, LLC. Her work includes chairing health literacy programs at an urban teaching hospital, leading health literacy training sessions, and teaching about health literacy at a university level. Karen also is active in local, regional, and national health literacy collaborations. These include Healthy Cleveland’s Health Literacy Committee, Ohio Health Literacy Partners, and the National Council to Improve Patient Safety through Health Literacy.
In this podcast, Karen Komondor talks with Helen Osborne about:
- The importance of knowing why health literacy matters to each of us.
- How this “why” can help drive commitment, action, and resilience.
- Tips for dealing with inevitable obstacles when it comes to health literacy plans and actions.
More ways to learn:
- You are welcome to contact Karen directly at Karen Komondor
- Ohio Health Literacy Partners
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Zest and Pizzazz.”
The post The Value of Knowing Why Health Literacy Matters (HLOL #235) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Christopher Booth MD, FRCPC, is a Medical Oncologist and Health Services Researcher at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. In his clinical practice, Dr. Booth provides care to patients with gastrointestinal cancers. His research explores issues of access, quality, and value of cancer care in Canada, India, and other nations. Dr. Booth is a well-published author and educator. He has received many accolades including the “2022 Exceptional Healer Award” from Kingston Health Sciences Centre for his work that embodies compassion, respect, and clinical excellence.
Dr. Christopher Booth talks with Helen Osborne about:
- “Time toxicity.” This refers to the amount of time that patients invest in their medical care. It often includes time spent traveling, waiting, having procedures, managing side effects, and interacting with the health care system.
- The importance of discussing the trade-offs of treatment benefits with patients’ use of time, especially when people are near the end of life.
- Suggestions about how to discuss this complex topic with patients and families in ways that are compassionate, clear, and understandable.
More ways to learn:
- “The Most Valuable Resource in Medicine,” FreakonomicsMD podcast, Episode #59. An interview with Dr. Christopher Booth by podcast host, Dr. Bapu Jena.
- “What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member, and an oncologist,” by Koven R, Nelson P, Booth CP. Published in CMAJ
- “The Time Toxicity of Cancer Treatment,” by Gupta A, Eisenhauer EA, Booth CM. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
- “Has the Current Oncology Value Paradigm Forgotten Patients’ Time? Too Little of a Good Thing,” by Fundytus A, Prasad V, Booth CM. Published in JAMA Oncology
- “Dr. Chris Booth: The Emperor Has No Clothes 5 à 7 Research Talks” video of a TED-style presentation from Queen’s Health Sciences.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Life Choices, or Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials.”
The post Time Toxicity: Time that Patients Can Lose to Treatment (HLOL #234) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Maria Baimas-George, MD, MPH, not only is a transplant surgeon but also the author and illustrator of The Strength of My Scars, a series of children’s books about a wide range of medical and surgical conditions. Dr. Baimas-George is passionate about the value of intertwining art and surgery to improve patient understanding, increase satisfaction, and reduce apprehension.
In this podcast, Dr. Baimas-George talks with Helen Osborne about:
- How art and surgery are often intertwined. That includes beauty within the body as well as using art in patient communication.
- Why and how analogies and illustrations together can help increase patients understanding, even of complex topics like pathophysiology.
- What listeners in all settings can do to incorporate visuals in their work.
More ways to learn:
- The Strength of My Scars. A series of books for children that addresses the anatomy, pathophysiology, hospital course, surgical detail, and post-operative care for specific conditions using easy to understand language and colorful visual aids.
- “Novel Way to Improve Satisfaction, Comprehension, and Anxiety in Caregivers: A Randomized Trial Exploring the Use of Comprehensive, Illustrated Children’s Books for Pediatric Surgical Populations,” by Baimas-George, M et al. Published in JACS (Journal of the American College of Surgeons), March 2022.
- “Picture superiority in free recall: Imagery or dual coding?” by Paivio A, Csapo K. Published in Cognitive Psychology, 1973.
- “Remembering what the doctor said: Organization and adults’ memory for medical information,” by McGuire LC. Published in Experimental Aging Research, 1996.
- “Patients’ memory for medical information,” by Kessels RPC. Published in JRSM (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine),
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “X-tras.”
The post Using Art to Communicate About Surgery (HLOL #233) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Nicole Liebau, BSW, is Director of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) National Resource Center at the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Inc. There are over 50 SMP projects across the United States that focus on issues of Medicare fraud, outreach, and education.
In this podcast, Nicole Liebau talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Fraud and abuse. What these terms mean, who it can affect, and why it’s a problem.
- Examples of ways to inform the public about preventing, detecting, and reporting possible fraud and abuse.
- The importance of considering health literacy when communicating about potential healthcare fraud and abuse.
More ways to learn:
- SMP: Protect Yourself and Loved Ones from Medicare Fraud
- SMP: Read Your Medicare Statements
- SMP: Fraud Schemes
- SMP: Consequences to Beneficiaries
- National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association: The Challenge of Health Care Fraud
- Global Health Care Anti-Fraud Network: The Health Care Fraud Challenge
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Community Connections.”
The post Communicating About Potential Healthcare Fraud and Abuse (HLOL #232) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Elena T. Carbone, DrPH, RD/LDN, FAND is Professor of Nutrition and Associate Dean for Curriculum & Academic Oversight in the Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Carbone has over 25 years of experience in health education, health literacy, and nutrition communication. Her research engages multi-ethnic communities with low health literacy skills and integrates behavioral interventions to promote health and prevent chronic disease complications. In all her teaching and research, Carbone knows that word choice matters.
In this podcast, Dr. Elena Carbone talks with Helen Osborne about:
- How words can affect health understanding and acceptance. It’s more about what people hear rather than what we write or say.
- Consequences when others do not understand messages as we had intended.
- Tips and strategies that can be used when speaking or writing, in formal and informal conversations, and when messages go wrong.
More ways to learn:
- Teachback Toolkit http://www.teachbacktraining.org/
- Think Cultural Health https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/
- Health Literacy Online https://health.gov/healthliteracyonline/
- CDC Health Literacy https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Plain Language.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Words Matter: What We Say and Write Can Affect Health Understanding (HLOL #231) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Teresa Wagner DrPH, RD/LD, CHWI, has expertise in both wellness and health literacy. She is Assistant Professor in the School of Health Professions and in the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She’s also Interim Director/Clinical Executive for Health Literacy at SaferCare Texas, the state’s patient safety institute. Wagner’s research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health and nutrition literacy. That includes working closely with community health workers to meet unmet community needs.
In this podcast, Teresa Wagner talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Models that address components of wellness as a goal.
- Health literacy and wellness. How these concepts together can help reduce barriers to care and improve health equity.
- Recommendations about ways to help others in regard to wellness.
More ways to learn:
- The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Lifestyle Health Sciences
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine
- World Health Organization: Constitution
- VA (Veterans Administration): Whole Health
- Princeton University: UMatter
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Health Equity in the Context of Health Literacy.”
Read a transcript of this podcast.
The post Wellness and Health Literacy (HLOL #230) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Alice Horowitz, RDH, MA, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at University of Maryland’s School of Public Health in College Park. She was instrumental in initiating the need to address health literacy in dentistry. Dr. Horowitz’s ongoing advocacy, research, and teaching have helped professionals of all disciplines take […]
The post Oral Health Literacy: How Diseases of the Mouth Affect Overall Health (HLOL #229) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Genevieve Walker, PhD, is a medical writer and editor who creates plain-language educational and marketing content for patients and other health care consumers. Through her business, Bridge Health Communications, Genevieve helps organizations strategize, develop, and execute communications with patients and the public. In this podcast, Genevieve Walker talks with Helen Osborne about: How lists are […]
The post Bullet Points and Other Types of Lists (HLOL #228) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Kip Clark describes himself as being passionate about better and more meaningful communication. This belief guides his work as a standardized patient with medical students and as a podcast host and producer. Clark came to working as a standardized patient work from a background in improv comedy. He is a graduate of Kenyon College with […]
The post A Standardized Patient’s Perspective of Health Communication (HLOL #227) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Lenora Johnson, DrPH, MPH directs the science policy, engagement, health education, and public-facing communication initiatives of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institute of Health (NIH). This office supports and coordinates the public facing messaging and information delivery channels on behalf of NHLBI. One of the many projects Dr. Johnson works with […]
The post Building Trust with Each Audience (HLOL #226) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Tedi Brash and Melissa Yan are based in Toronto, Canada. They, along with Rashmi Bhide, are authors of the terrific how-to resource, “A Guide to Developing Live Virtual Group Patient Education: Nine Steps to Success.” Brash is a Patient and Family Education Specialist at Unity Health Toronto. She works with clinical teams, patients, and families to create […]
The post Live Virtual Group Patient Education: Creating Content, Delivering Sessions, and Meeting Needs (HLOL #225) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Christine Wilson has focused on health communication throughout her career. Her experience includes being Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Fox Chase Cancer, Vice President for Communications at the American Association for Cancer Research, and now Vice President for Advocacy Communications at the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF). Wilson brings in the patient’s voice […]
The post Health Communication in Context of Each Person’s Life (HLOL #224) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Parul Bhargava, MD is Professor & Vice-Chair of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is a pathologist with subspecialty training in hematology. Dr. Bhargava describes herself as passionate about medical education and has authored or edited numerous academic publications. In this podcast, Dr. Bhargava talks with Helen Osborne about: Diagnostic […]
The post Blood Testing: What Is Learned in the Lab (HLOL #223) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Dr. Emily Tonorezos is Director of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Survivorship which is part of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. Dr. Tonorezos leads NCI’s efforts to address challenges facing cancer survivors and their families. These efforts include preventing or mitigating adverse effects and improving the health and well-being […]
The post Survivors? Choosing Words about People Who Have, or Have Had, a Serious Illness (HLOL #222) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Joe Weisse is co-coordinator for the Low Vision Support Group of Natick for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Now retired, for 33 years Weisse was Public Information Officer for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Using his communications background, Weisse is a longtime Amateur (ham) Radio operator making contacts with stations […]
The post Communicating When Vision is a Concern (HLOL #221) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Laura A. Saunders, MSSW is a social worker with expertise in Motivational interviewing (MI). She works with University of Wisconsin-Madison at the Great Lakes Addictions, Mental Health, and Prevention Technology Transfer Centers. Saunders leads motivational interviewing workshops for professionals in many fields including health care, education, human services, public health, and criminal justice. She is an […]
The post Motivational Interviewing (HLOL #220) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Paula Worby (pictured on the right) and Miriam Lara-Mejia both work at Hesperian Health Guides, a non-profit publisher best known for the book Where There Is No Doctor that is used throughout the world. Hesperian has more than a dozen books on a broad range of health topics and makes almost all of that content available […]
The post Making Materials Relatable and Readable (HLOL #219) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Professor Jason Last, MD, is University Dean of Students at University College Dublin in Ireland. Building on his experience as a practicing physician, Last has led and participated in many graduate medical education initiatives and programs. This includes work in patient education and advocacy. In this podcast, Professor Last talks with Helen Osborne about: The […]
The post Patients as partners in medical education, practice, and governance (HLOL #218) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Aisha Langford, PhD, MPH is an assistant professor of population health at NYU Langone Health. Her research interests include health communication and medical decision-making in certain chronic health conditions. Prior to working in academic research, Langford held professional roles in public relations, adult literacy, and community outreach. She is an active member of several professional societies and serves […]
The post Publishing and Sharing Health Literacy Research and Experiences (HLOL #217) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Maureen Maurer brings a strong background in health behavior and health education. Her work focuses on engaging patients, families, and community members in health research, health care delivery, and health policy. Maurer, a principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research, directs a research support project for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) called the […]
The post Plain Language Summaries of Research Studies (HLOL #216) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Joi R. Canton MSN, RN, NPD-BC is a nurse and Manager of Community Outreach in Boca Raton, Florida. In addition to many years in clinical practice, Canton brings experience as a clinical educator, clinical instructor, nurse leader, and preceptor/mentor for novice nurses. In this podcast, Joi Canton talks with Helen Osborne about: Why it can […]
The post New Clinicians & Health Literacy: Putting Classroom Learning into Everyday Practice (HLOL #215) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Jaime Collins describes herself as a passionately curious woman with a deep love of humanity. Collins says that it was through a life-long journey of self-discovery that she learned and unlearned the societal dictates that for years had kept her imprisoned in a gender that wasn’t hers. Eventually Collins learned to love and accept herself […]
The post Biologic Sex, Gender Identity and Expression, and Other Issues to Consider When Communicating About Health (HLOL #214) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Paul Han, MD, MA, MPH is Senior Scientist in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences and Adjunct Investigator in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Han’s research focuses on understanding and improving the communication and management of uncertainty in health care. His clinical background is in […]
The post Uncertainty: What It Is and Ways to Help (HLOL #213) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Liz Persaud is the Program and Outreach Manager for Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program at the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) within the College of Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a nationally recognized public speaker and advocate addressing the need to build bridges and solidify gaps […]
The post Making Health Information Accessible to People with Disabilities (HLOL #212) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
This is a simple notice for podcast subscribers to let them know that there is a small chance that there could be issues with the feed as we make a transition to a new web server (and a spiffy new website design!). If you don’t see a June 1st episode, search for Health Literacy Out […]
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Professor Karen L. Woolley BHMS Ed Hons PhD CMPP has conducted and published more than 100 research studies on patient involvement and ethical practices in medical communications. She brings to this work extensive experience as a university professor, hospital director, journal editor, and senior leader at an international pharmaceutical company and a medical communications company. […]
The post Patient Authors of Research Studies (HLOL #211) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Carolyn Cutilli, PhD, RN is past president of the Health Care Education Association (HCEA) and co-chair of HCEA’s Patient Education Guidelines work group. She also is a patient education specialist at Penn Medicine and adjunct professor of nursing research and health policy at American International College. Cutilli writes and speaks about many aspects of health communication, including geriatric […]
The post Talking about Patient Education Practice Guidelines for Health Professionals (HLOL #210) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Cliff Coleman M.D., M.P.H. is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Coleman practices as a family medicine physician at a Federally Qualified Health Center. His clinical interests include treating medically complex individuals and underserved populations. Dr. Coleman is also a national health literacy expert. His ongoing research and teaching help lead the way […]
The post Telemedicine: Communicating About Health by Phone or 2-Way Video (HLOL #209) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Dr. Rima Rudd has been a member of the faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for over 30 years. Her work focuses on community health, inequities, and literacy related barriers to health information, services, and care. Dr. Rudd is one of the founders of, and leaders in, health literacy studies. In […]
The post Health Literacy Model with Multiple Variables and Actions (HLOL #208) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Mareika Phillips is an experienced graphic designer. Now at Communicate Health, she leads the team that develops creative design solutions to make health information engaging and accessible. Phillips believes deeply in design as a universal language and focuses her work on making design accessible for all people. In this podcast, Mareika Phillips talks with Helen Osborne […]
The post Pictograms: Images that Represent Ideas in Simple and Literal Ways (HLOL #207) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Mark Hagerty is an instructional designer, learning specialist, and medical editor. He has built online training programs that teach thousands of students. Many of these focus on scientific and medical topics. Hagerty’s work includes creating continuing education courses, editing scientific documents, and preparing customized visual presentations as the owner of Biomedical Writing Services, LLC. In this […]
The post Designing Online Instructional Programs (HLOL #206) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Nick Bowman Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts on the uses and effects of video games and other interactive media. Bowman is the incoming editor of Journal of Media Psychology and completed a Fulbright program in Taiwan studying persuasive applications […]
The post Online Games and Health Teaching: For People of All Ages, Abilities, and Savvy (HLOL #205) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Barbra Kingsley, PhD is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Kingsley-Kleimann Group and Chair of the Center for Plain Language. Barbra Kingsley is an expert in information design and plain language with a deep understanding of how individuals, particularly vulnerable populations, use print and online information. She believes that clear communication not only invites understanding […]
The post Writing Legal Notices to Help Readers Act in Their Best Interest (HLOL #204) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Janet Ohene-Frempong MS, is a plain language and cross-cultural communications consultant with decades of experience in patient/provider communications. Her accomplishments are many. They include leading workshops, keynoting conferences, writing and editing plain language projects, and consulting with a wide range of clients on health-related topics. Janet Ohene-Frempong has deservedly received numerous accolades and awards for […]
The post Health Literacy and Health Equity (HLOL #203) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Glen Nowak Ph.D. is Professor of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Director of the Grady College Center for Health and Risk Communication. Nowak has provided senior-level leadership on communicating about topics that include infectious disease, public health risks, and immunizations for government agencies, […]
The post Communicating Complex Health Messages in a Complex World (HLOL #202) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Iris Feinberg, PhD is the Associate Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University. She is a health literacy researcher and research assistant professor in the Department of Learning Sciences. Dr. Feinberg and a team created the easy-to-read booklet about COVID-19, “Answers to Coronavirus Questions.” In this podcast, Iris Feinberg talks with Helen Osborne […]
The post Creating Materials to Meet Urgent Health Needs (HLOL #201) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Adam Weiss brings years of experience in podcasting, online video, and live broadcasting with a specific focus on scientific and medical content. He has hosted, launched, or produced podcasts for clients that include the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the American Institute of Physics, and the Western Veterinary Conference. One of his early projects was starting the […]
The post Health Literacy Out Loud: 200 Episodes of Listening & Learning (HLOL #200) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Sylvia Baedorf Kassis MPH, CYT focuses on many aspects of clinical research. Her work includes understanding the experience of research participants and incorporating their insights into study processes. Among her many accomplishments, Sylvia and her team created a health literacy website especially for clinical research stakeholders. This is part of a larger initiative from the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials (MRCT) Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard.
In this podcast, Sylvia Baedorf Kassis talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Clinical research and health literacy. Why it is important to consider each of those topics separately as well as look at them together.
- Challenges faced when communicating with the public or patients about clinical research studies. These challenges include explaining unfamiliar concepts, defining complex terms, and communicating in a range of formats.
- Tips and recommendations for all listeners who communicate in a variety of ways.
More ways to learn:
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials (MRCT) Center, https://mrctcenter.org
- Health Literacy in Clinical Research, https://mrctcenter.org/health-literacy/
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (updated 2018), by Helen Osborne. Chapter 8 is especially relevant to this podcast. It is about decision aids and shared decision-making.
Read a transcript of this podcast
The post Integrating Health Literacy into Clinical Research (HLOL #199) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.
Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg, PhD is a scientist and project lead at the University Health Network’s OpenLab in Canada. She works with a multi-disciplinary team to discover and create solutions to issues in the health system using techniques that span design, research, and operational modeling. Shoshana Hanh-Goldberg manages the Patient Oriented Discharge Summaries (PODS) project that is being used at over 20 hospitals in Ontario, Canada.
In this podcast, Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg talks with Helen Osborne about:
- PODS. What this discharge tool is, why it was needed, and how it helps.
- Creating this form with those it is designed to help. That includes working closely with people who have language barriers and limited health literacy.
- Using plain language and health literacy principles throughout. That includes a conversational tone, limited number of topics, clear headings, interactive checkboxes, icons, and plenty of space for patients to write notes.
- Ways to access and adapt PODS for use in your own setting.
More ways to learn:
- PODS (Patient Oriented Discharge Summary). Includes a, toolkit to get started, dynamic version to try, research results, and videos of PODS in action.
- “Co-creating patient-oriented discharge instructions with patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers,” by Hahn-Goldberg S, Okrainec K, et al. Published in Journal of Hospital Medicine, December 2015.
- “A Participatory Approach for Communicating with Diverse Audiences (HLOL #31),” Health Literacy Out Loud podcast interview with Linda Neuhauser, DrPH.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (updated 2018), by Helen Osborne. Chapter 12 is especially relevant to this podcast, “Forms and Other Reading-to-Do Documents.”
Read the transcript of this podcast
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Brian Wallace is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coin Laundry Association and Executive Director of the LaundryCares Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to provide laundry services, books, and literacy resources to those in need. This includes their Laundry Literacy Coalition–an initiative to promote early childhood literacy through America’s laundromats.
In this podcast, Brian Wallace talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Laundry Literacy Coalition. A novel connection that honors and supports the relationship between neighborhood laundromats and communities they serve.
- How laundromats are helping to promote early childhood literacy with reading corners, mini-libraries, story times, and visits from library or literacy specialists.
- Ways to connect with people who need the most help at places they already visit. Examples of how laundromats are working with local health agencies, too.
More ways to learn:
- LaundryCares Foundation. With videos, events, and a lot more information about laundromats and literacy programs working together.
- Laundromat “Family Read, Play & Learn” Kits. Resources to turn laundromats into places of learning.
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (updated 2018), by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is Chapter 42, “Zest and Pizzazz” that looks at the power of creative, out-of-the-box programs and ideas.
Read the transcript of this podcast
The post Promoting Early Childhood Literacy through Local Laundromats (HLOL #197) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.