10 Ways to Improve Patient Health Literacy. By Bob Sandrick

Transcription

1 10 Ways to Improve Patient Health Literacy By Bob Sandrick

2 Write clear medical instructions "I've always thought it is important for people to have written instructions when they leave the doctor's office. For 30 years, I have collected or written handouts on just about every medical problem I encounter. We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I keep a "Grey's Anatomy" flipchart in each exam room to help explain their problem. It is fascinating to watch the lightbulb go on in a patient's head when they can literally see what I am talking about." Dana Simpler, MD, primary-care specialist, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore Md.

3 Assign health coaches "The latest buzzword is 'patient-centered care.' [There is a] need to develop team-care coordination utilizing health coaches as a bridge between providers and patients. This helps educate the patients and identify care gaps and opportunities that would otherwise be missed or overlooked. Having a nursing team that is also patient focused and not task-driven is a way to engage patients in the management of chronic disease states and has the most effective outcomes. " John G. Brady, MD, president and physician consultant, QVS Medical Consulting, Urbandale, Iowa

4 Cut through the jargon "My suggestion for increasing health literacy in patients is to use easy-tounderstand layman terminology when discussing medical issues and frequent questioning during the discussion to determine understanding." Lesley Hunt, nurse case manager, Orchard Medical Consulting, Phoenix, Ariz.

5 Take time to talk "Nothing conveys important information better than a one-on-one dialogue between you and the patient. At One Medical, we have structured our patient visits to permit plenty of time for communication in a relaxed, trusting atmosphere, allowing our patients the freedom to question and express any and all concerns. Because we stress shared-decision making, patients also feel empowered as participants in their care, this engages the patient and opens the lines of communication and furthers understanding." Malcom Thaler, MD, internal medicine specialist, One Medical, New York City

6 Train Staff in health literacy "We offer health-literacy training for our staff at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, showing them how to write easy-to-read educational materials at the sixth-grade reading level for patients. We train nurses in health literacy during their daily meetings on the floor and during their larger meetings. I work on the Patient Education Committee, and we've worked hard to include our Health Information Center in the review of educational materials written by staff." Kelsey Leonard, assistant director of the Health Information Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center

7 Utilize websites "As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, I spend a lot of my time discussing injuries and injury prevention with patients, families and coaches. The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine has developed a very comprehensive and easy-to-understand website that is full of resources for athletes, patients, families, coaches and trainers. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons also has a thorough website complete with easy-to-understand resources on orthopedic conditions and treatments." John-Paul Rue, MD, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.

8 Show charts and models "In addition to websites, I use anatomy charts and models for education. For orthopedics, I have found it to be very important to show the patients the anatomy of what is injured or why they are having pain. Using models and charts as an additional tool is very helpful and allows patients to see and better understand their condition." Rue

9 Organize health literacy events "[We have] organized events to promote health literacy. In 2015, we hosted a free Health Literacy Forum. We invited healthcare professionals, educators, libraries, public officials and business leaders, and focused on the 10 health-literacy attributes of a healthcare organization. More than 100 people attended." Sandy Oelschlegel, director of the Health Information Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center

10 Use YouTube videos "A patient's time with their doctor is so brief that we really need to maximize our impact for best outcomes. There are many websites and YouTube videos where patients can learn how to take care of their health. My office computer can access the internet, so it is easy for me to send patients a pertinent link during their office visit. Better chance they will look at a website or video if it is in their inbox. Plus with [EHRs], I can print out my verbal instructions after every visit to improve compliance." Simpler

11 Create a space for health education "At the University of Tennessee Medical Center, we've been providing a health information service since the 1990s. We give patients a packet of information that's free, unbiased, valid and up-to-date on any health topic. In 2014, we moved the service from an adjacent building into the heart of the hospital and named it the Health Information Center. We have expanded space, additional staffing and room for patients and family members to review health information in an easy-to-read format." Oelschlegel