Image via WikipediaBy Lucy Dylan The Center for Disease Control and other government officials are working to improve communication between doctors and patients. The Health Literacy Action Plan, a new government initiative, hopes to improve patients’ understanding of their health by simplifying medical language. According to the program’s web site, target groups include minorities and lower income individuals, two groups likely to lack basic health literacy.
One step health insurers have taken is to use a program that essentially translates medical jargon to plain English. The program, marketed by Health Literacy Innovations, scans a doctor’s document and suggests simplifications. Meanwhile, many state Medicaid programs have opted to provide health information written for people with fourth to sixth grade reading level, ensuring that people understand the medical treatments they need.
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