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To write clear, understandable material for patients, patient educators must involve the target population in the process.
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When difficult medical terms are used in a text the reading grade level is higher.
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Many resources are available to help patient education managers produce clear, readable patient handouts. To write documents in plain language Doug Seubert, guideline editor in Quality Improvement and Care Management at Marshfield (WI) Clinic frequently uses the following resources:
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An intensive case management program for patients with end-stage renal disease resulted in an 83% drop in hospitalization in just six months for members of DaVita VillageHealth's Special Needs Plan.
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As the result of an initiative in which the entire hospital staff collaborate to improve length of stay, Spartanburg (SC) Regional Healthcare System's average severity-adjusted length of stay has dropped from an average of 5.40 days in 2007 to an average of 5.18 days so far in 2008.
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What makes educational material a must-read? The key is to make documents easy to read and understand, says Doug Seubert, guideline editor in Quality Improvement and Care Management at Marshfield (WI) Clinic.
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Several states are re-energizing hospital board member education efforts with moves to certify and mandate educational requirements. Minnesota has started a voluntary certification program, and New Jersey has passed laws to require education.
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Soft-tissue rheumatism often is a challenging disorder for the primary care physicians. The patient's symptoms often are vague, and the physical examination and laboratory testing often do not give comforting confirmatory findings. This issue reviews common conditions that afflict many of our patients and that, although often not serious, cause significant distress and morbidity. With the proper history and attention to presenting features, effective and professionally rewarding treatments are available.
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5-α reductase inhibitors and hip fracture in men; the effects of drug-reimbursement policy on outcomes; new guidelines for type 2 diabetes; beta-blocker-associated brady-cardia is linked to CVD events; FDA Updates.
