Greetings, all, 

 

Fran, I DO say "this makes sense for everyone" and it's true. If you look at
the NAAL health literacy data, you'll see that "only 12% of the population
is proficient" in the tasks required for health literacy. But I think we
need to turn that on its head and say "the health, medical, and insurance
industries have built systems that do not work for 88% of their intended
audiences." I think we ought to start using that kind of labeling. 

 

As we make the case, we don't have to point out any specific "at risk"
populations because 88% of us are at risk of not being able to handle the
systems that we're forced to use to get our health care, learn about healthy
choices, etc. We need to make the case for change from that perspective and
challenge the institutions, corporations, agencies, etc. to recreate systems
and processes that work for everyone, no matter their educational, literacy,
or language skills. That is their responsibility, I believe! In
communication, whether patient education, technical writing, social
marketing, or advertising, the writers'/speakers' first task is to know
their audience and customize to the audience's needs and interests. That
means one does not use methods that reach only 12% of your audience! Let's
put the responsibility where it should be.    

 

Audrey Riffenburgh, M.A., President
Plain Language Works, LLC 

Specialists in Plain Language & Health Literacy since 1994

Based Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA 
Phone: (505) 345-1107   E-mail:  <mailto:ar at plainlanguageworks.com>
ar at plainlanguageworks.com

========================================
Principal and Founding Member,  <http://www.clearlanguagegroup.com/>
www.clearlanguagegroup.com
Co-founder and former Faculty,  <http://www.healthliteracyinstitute.net/>
www.healthliteracyinstitute.net
Ph.D. Student in Health Communication, Univ. of New Mexico 

 

 


> -----Original Message-----



> From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov

[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]


> On Behalf Of Frances E. Robinson



> Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:20 AM



> To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List



> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3673] Re: Simulated Hospital Patients



> 



> I agree completely that labeling seems inappropriate and often unkind.



> Unfortunately, as long as we still need to constantly "make the case" to



> disbelievers of the need for health literacy advocacy, we will still need

to identify


> the "at-risk" populations.  Evidence and statistics help to convince the

skeptics,


> but data needs to be "labeled."  If only we could just say, "This makes

sense for


> everyone..."



> 



> Fran Robinson



> Patient Education Coordinator



> Patient Education Services



> Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center



> One Medical Center Drive



> Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756



> (603) 650-6439



> 



> --- You wrote:



> I am missing why the patient needs to be labelled at all--everyone of us

in some


> situation has problems understanding because of our capacity (variable

over time


> and situation) and the demands placed on us.  These situations are too

common


> to even need to label the person.



> 



> Connie Davis, MN, RN



> Co-director, Health Literacy in Communities Prototype Collaborative



> Senior Faculty



> Impact BC



> 



> 450 - 1385 West 8th Avenue



> Vancouver, BC V6H 3V9



> 



> cell: 604 991-4563



> Tel: 604 742-1772



> Toll Free: 1 888 742-1772



> Fax: 604 742-1773



> 



> Email: cdavis at impactbc.ca



> Web: www.impactbc.ca



> ________________________________________



> From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov [healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On



> Behalf Of IHABRAMSON at aol.com [IHABRAMSON at aol.com]



> Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 2:29 PM



> To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov



> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 3666] Re: Simulated Hospital Patients



> 



> Rima,



> 



> Depending on the situation, I have used other terms such as

"undereducated


> adults."  By the way, we once had a governor here in Michigan who shared

the


> sentiment you refer to [you had your chance] - and he promptly made cuts

to


> many adult education programs.



> 



> Ilene



> 



> 



> 



> 



> In a message dated 11/2/2009 1:58:44 PM Eastern Standard Time,



> rrudd at hsph.harvard.edu writes:



> Ilene,



> Yes, that is true but illiteracy is such a loaded word -- it has become a

label


> shaded by blame [you had your chance] and filled with shame and a sense of



> disgrace.  I would not use it as a metaphor.



> Rima....



> 



> Rima E. Rudd, ScD, MSPH



> Department of Society, Human Development & Health



> Harvard School of Public Health



> 677 Huntington Avenue



> Boston MA 02115



> Phone: 617 432 1135



> fax:     617 432 3123



> web:



>

www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy<http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthlitera
c


> y>



>

www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether<http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstoge
t


> her>



> 



> >>> <IHABRAMSON at aol.com> 11/1/2009 11:45 AM >>>



> Thank you for your response, Rima.  A lot depends on how one defines

illiteracy.


> 



> Ilene



> 



>  In a message dated 11/1/2009 11:40:32 AM Eastern Standard Time,



> rrudd at hsph.harvard.edu writes:



> Please keep in mind that while many people may struggle with the written

word,


> very few people in the US are illiterate.



> Rima



> 



> Rima E. Rudd, ScD, MSPH



> Department of Society, Human Development & Health



> Harvard School of Public Health



> 677 Huntington Avenue



> Boston MA 02115



> Phone: 617 432 1135



> fax:     617 432 3123



> web:



>

www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy<http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthlitera
c


> y>



>

www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether<http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstoge
t


> her>



> 



> >>> <IHABRAMSON at aol.com> 10/30/2009 2:13 PM >>>



> Hello Everyone.



> 



> I am in the process of preparing a curriculum involving simulated hospital

patients,


> particularly those who might be illiterate, and was wondering if anyone

had


> sample material to share. Given all our tight schedules, it's never great

to re-


> invent the wheel. Thank you in advance.



> 



> 



> Ilene



> 



> Ilene Abramson, Ph.D.



> Member- Policy Committee



> Michigan Board of Pharmacy (2009 - 2011)



> 



> Member - Rules Committee (2009-2012)



> Michigan Board of Respiratory Care



> 



> ihabramson at aol.com<mailto:ihabramson at aol.com>



> Tel:    248-926-0695



> Fax:   248-926-9080



> 



> 



> 



> ----------------------------------------------------



> National Institute for Literacy



> Health and Literacy mailing list



> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov



> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to



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> Email delivered to ihabramson at aol.com



> 



> 



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> Health and Literacy mailing list



> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov



> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to



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> Email delivered to ihabramson at aol.com



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> Email delivered to frances.e.robinson at hitchcock.org



> --- end of quote ---



> 



> 



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