Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i59DX0912981; Wed, 9 Jun 2004 09:33:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 09:33:00 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <00cb01c44e25$ace93e60$6401a8c0@HLC> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Helen Osborne" <helen@healthliteracy.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4447] Re: Which Test? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 1200 Lines: 29 To all, Thank you Archie for once again sharing your point of view. As a clinician, I strongly believe that our job with patients is to build trusting relationships, not add new barriers by testing patients' literacy skills. And even if we agreed that literacy tests in clinical setting are worthwhile, what then? In my experience as a health literacy consultant, I know of few facilities that are fully prepared to teach health information at all reading and learning levels. And even fewer programs routinely refer patients to local literacy services. Walther Wallace asked: > Do we need better ways to diagnose literacy skills of patients? Or, do we need better ways to enhance the skills of providers to engage in authentic dialogue with patients? To me, health communication is not an either/or choice. Providers and patients alike need to communicate in ways each other can understand. ~Helen Helen Osborne M.Ed., OTR/L Health Literacy Consulting - www.healthliteracy.com Health Literacy Month - www.healthliteracymonth.org E-mail: Helen@healthliteracy.com Phone: 508-653-1199 31 Highland Street #201, Natick, MA 01760 Sign up for the free "What's New" e-list at www.healthliteracy.com
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