Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/ Podcast Interviews With Those In-the-Know About Heath Literacy Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:11:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-HLOL_id-32x32.png Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/ 32 32 Helen Osborne false Helen Osborne helen@healthliteracy.com 2021 2021 podcast Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HLOL-PodcastArtwork.png https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com Monthly Monthly Helen Osborne Adam Weiss Talking with Patients about Bad News (HLOL #270) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2026/04/01/talking-with-patients-about-bad-news-hlol-270/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:00:28 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10113 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 […]

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]]> 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:

·      “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

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 270 270 Talking with Patients about Bad News full 20:44 Neonatal Teaching: Health Literacy Lessons for Us All (HLOL #269) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2026/03/01/neonatal-teaching-health-literacy-lessons-for-us-all-hlol-269/ Sun, 01 Mar 2026 06:00:16 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10108 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 […]

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]]> 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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 269 269 Neonatal Teaching: Health Literacy Lessons for Us All full 23:42 Canine Companions and Facility Dogs in Healthcare (HLOL #268) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2026/02/01/canine-companions-and-facility-dogs-in-healthcare-hlol-268/ Sun, 01 Feb 2026 06:00:27 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10103 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 […]

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]]> 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:

Videos:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 266 266 Canine Companions and Facility Dogs in Healthcare full 25:49 Communicating Clearly with People Who Have Disabilities (HLOL #267) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2026/01/01/communicating-clearly-with-people-who-have-disabilities-hlol-267/ Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:30 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10095 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 267 267 Communicating Clearly with People Who Have Disabilities full 18:58 Emergency Health Information (HLOL #266) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/12/01/emergency-health-information-hlol-266/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:33 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10090 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: […]

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]]> 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:

Information about MedicAlert in Australia:

Information about MedicAlert in USA:

Information about MedicAlert in Canada:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 266 266 Emergency Health Information full 25:31 Narrative Journalism: Stories to Make Points Clear and Compelling (HLOL #265) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/11/01/narrative-journalism-stories-to-make-points-clear-and-compelling-hlol-265/ Sat, 01 Nov 2025 06:00:10 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10085 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. […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 265 265 Narrative Journalism: Stories to Make Points Clear and Compelling full 22:11 U.S. Health Literacy Association: From Silos to Synergy (HLOL #264) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/10/01/u-s-health-literacy-association-from-silos-to-synergy-hlol-264/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:00:10 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10077 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. […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne full 25:38 Re-Airing: Health in the Context of People’s Lives (HLOL #263) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/09/01/re-airing-health-in-the-context-of-peoples-lives-hlol-263/ Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:00:38 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10075 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. […]

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]]> 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 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.

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]]> Helen Osborne full 27:00 Re-Airing: When Patients Create Their Own Medical Binders: A Powerful Way to Get Organized and Feel More in Control (HLOL #262) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/08/01/re-airing-when-patients-create-their-own-medical-binders-a-powerful-way-to-get-organized-and-feel-more-in-control-hlol-262/ Fri, 01 Aug 2025 06:00:25 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10070 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne full 21:29 Age-Friendly Health Systems (HLOL #261) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/07/01/age-friendly-health-systems-hlol-261/ Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:54 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10064 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 261 261 Age-Friendly Health Systems full 25:58 Genetic Testing; Conversation with a Researcher and Patient Advocate (HLOL #260) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/06/01/genetic-testing-conversation-with-a-researcher-and-patient-advocate-hlol-260/ Sun, 01 Jun 2025 06:00:42 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10054 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 260 260 Genetic Testing; Conversation with a Researcher and Patient Advocate full 26:14 Discussing Health Literacy with an Information Designer (HLOL #259) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/05/01/discussing-health-literacy-with-an-information-designer-hlol-259/ Thu, 01 May 2025 06:00:57 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10052 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 […]

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]]> 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:

 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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 259 259 Discussing Health Literacy with an Information Designer full 23:19 Medical Clowns: A Dose of Joy for Patients of All Ages (HLOL #258) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/04/01/medical-clowns-a-dose-of-joy-for-patients-of-all-ages-hlol-258/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:23 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10046 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 258 258 Medical Clowns: A Dose of Joy for Patients of All Ages full 25:16 Using Music to Support Patient Care (HLOL #257) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/03/01/using-music-to-support-patient-care-hlol-257/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 06:00:55 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10041 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 257 257 Using Music to Support Patient Care full 24:57 HLOL #256: Len & Ceci Doak Discuss Health Literacy’s Past, Present and Future https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/02/01/hlol-256-len-ceci-doak-discuss-health-literacys-past-present-and-future/ Sat, 01 Feb 2025 06:00:40 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10036 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 […]

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]]> 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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 256 256 Len & Ceci Doak Discuss Health Literacy’s Past, Present and Future full 21:49 Communication Disabilities: Making Conversations Accessible to All (HLOL #255) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2025/01/01/communication-disabilities-making-conversations-accessible-to-all-hlol-255/ Wed, 01 Jan 2025 06:00:33 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10029 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, […]

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]]> 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:

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 255 255 Communication Disabilities: Making Conversations Accessible to All full 28:53 School-Based Health Centers: Health Literacy in Action (HLOL #254) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/12/01/school-based-health-centers-health-literacy-in-action-hlol-254/ Sun, 01 Dec 2024 06:00:41 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10023 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 254 254 School-Based Health Centers: Health Literacy in Action full 24:12 Gambling Disorders and Other Addictions (HLOL #253) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/11/01/gambling-disorders-and-other-addictions-hlol-253/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:00:07 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10006 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 253 253 Gambling Disorders and Other Addictions full 23:29 Health Information Equity: Equal Access to Information that is High-Quality, Understandable, and Usable (HLOL #252) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/10/01/health-information-equity-equal-access-to-information-that-is-high-quality-understandable-and-usable-hlol-252/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=10012 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 […]

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]]> 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.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 252 252 Health Information Equity: Equal Access to Information that is High-Quality, Understandable, and Usable full 25:23 Putting Health Literacy Policy into Practice: How the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub is Making This Happen (HLOL #251) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/09/01/putting-health-literacy-policy-into-practice-how-the-maryland-consumer-health-information-hub-is-making-this-happen-hlol-251/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 06:00:40 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9987 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 251 251 Putting Health Literacy Policy into Practice: How the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub is Making This Happen full 24:21 Family Health History: The Value of Learning about Generational Health (HLOL #250) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/08/01/family-health-history-the-value-of-learning-about-generational-health-hlol-250/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:00:43 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9989 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 […]

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]]> 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:

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 250 250 Family Health History: The Value of Learning about Generational Health full 28:43 Accessible Recreation for All (HLOL #249) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/07/01/accessible-recreation-for-all-hlol-249/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:00:23 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9981 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 […]

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]]> 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.”

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 249 249 Accessible Recreation for All full 23:21 Developing Materials for Adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities and Extreme Low Literacy (HLOL #248) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/06/01/developing-materials-for-adults-with-intellectual-developmental-disabilities-and-extreme-low-literacy-hlol-248/ Sat, 01 Jun 2024 06:00:46 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9973 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 248 248 Developing Materials for Adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities and Extreme Low Literacy full 24:45 Start by Assuming Your Audience is Smart and Savvy (HLOL #247) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/05/01/start-by-assuming-your-audience-is-smart-and-savvy-hlol-247/ Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:26 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9968 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 […]

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]]> 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 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

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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]]> Helen Osborne 247 247 Start by Assuming Your Audience is Smart and Savvy full 22:03 Cindy Brach Talks About the Evolution of Health Literacy (HLOL #246) https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/2024/04/01/cindy-brach-talks-about-the-evolution-of-health-literacy-hlol-246/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 06:00:36 +0000 https://www.healthliteracyoutloud.com/?p=9948 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 […]

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]]> 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:

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.

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]]> Helen Osborne 246 246 Cindy Brach Talks About the Evolution of Health Literacy full 31:41