Building a plain language culture is a major undertaking,
but a corporate setting presents a special set of challenges.
Karen Baker of Healthwise will discuss her organization’s
history, strategies, and programs to build and sustain
a corporate culture of plain language. She will address
typical pitfalls and challenges and suggest steps for
others to take. Dr. Susan Kleimann, President of Kleimann
Communication Group, will serve as moderator for this
panel.
7. Why? All about people and decisions
Health literacy
Mission:
To help people
make better
health decisions
(since 1975)
…capacity to
obtain, process,
and understand
basic health
information and
services needed to
make appropriate
health decisions.
* Healthy People 2010
Plain LanguagePlain Language
8. More challenges ahead
Average literacy skills of working adults are
expected to decline significantly by 2030 …
… An epidemic of limited health literacy
(Parker et al, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2008)
9. Steps (only 6!) to building
a plain language culture
Identify BenefitsIdentify Benefits11
Get Top-Level SupportGet Top-Level Support22
TrainTrain33
CommitCommit44
Include UsersInclude Users55
Have Fun!Have Fun!66
10. Identify Benefits
Meet Anna Stuart
Back pain caused
by a surfing injury
10 years ago
Metabolic disorder
with symptoms
similar to diabetes
11
Taking Medical Jargon Out of Doctor Visits, Wall Street Journal, July 2010
11. There are all these
huge words and
ambiguous terms,
and you only vaguely
understand any of it.
“
”
Identify Benefits11
Taking Medical Jargon Out of Doctor Visits, Wall Street Journal, July 2010
Healthwise plain
language helped
her learn about
treatment options
12. Medical gobbledygook
robs people of their
autonomy. Without
understanding they
have no real say in
their care.
Plain language
gives it back.
“
”
Get C-Level Support22
Don KemperDon Kemper
Healthwise Founder and CEOHealthwise Founder and CEO
24. Create a plain language culture
Identify BenefitsIdentify Benefits11
Get C-Level SupportGet C-Level Support22
TrainTrain33
CommitCommit44
Include UsersInclude Users55
Have Fun!Have Fun!66
