What's New in Health Literacy Consulting, July 2017

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July, 2017

Thanks for wanting to know what's new in Health Literacy Consulting. This issue highlights health literacy tips, podcasts, and summertime reading.

Health Literacy How-To Tip:

How Health Literacy Got Started. When did this area of practice and research get started? Who helped it grow from an intriguing notion to a strategy for health communication? And why is it called "health literacy"? Put health literacy into context by learning about our shared history in this month's How-To Tip.

Health Literacy Out Loud (HLOL) Podcasts:

Best Case/Worst Case: A Strategy to Manage Uncertainty in Shared Decision-Making. Dr. Gretchen Schwarze is a practicing vascular surgeon. She also is researching ways to help patients and families make decisions about high-risk operations and end-of-life care. In this podcast she talks about "Best Case/Worst Case," a strategy that uses narrative, a graphic aid, and simplicity to help accomplish these goals.
Older Adults, Brain Changes, and Health Understanding. Mark Hochhauser PhD is a psychologist and readability consultant. In this podcast he talks about brain changes that tend to decline with age. Mark then highlights ways for patients and families to help, along with possibilities of emerging technologies.
Deconstructing Stigma: A Very Public Multimedia Project about Mental Illness. Adriana Bobinchock has a keen interest in educating the public about mental illness. In this podcast interview, she talks about creating this amazing project now at Logan Airport. Adriana also suggests ways to create meaningful educational projects of your own.

Resources about Reading:

This is my favorite time of year. Beyond glorious weather, I appreciate a more leisurely pace to not only focus on projects but also indulge in one of my favorite pastimes, reading. Thinking you might enjoy these resources, too:

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: A Novel. This charming tale takes place in a small bookstore. It beautifully weaves a story about people and their favorite books. While I'm not a big fiction fan, to me this book is a gem.
It's thanks to these two podcasts that I find lots of great reads: The New York Times Book Review Podcast always has author interviews and discussions about books that people are reading. Fresh Air with Terry Gross often focuses on books, with abundant interviews and reviews. Just this morning, I listened to a review about another of my new favorites, Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York.

What are you reading? I welcome your recommendations.

To me, this is a perfect time of year to explore those topics that interest us most. Thanks for not only wanting to learn about health literacy but also finding ways to stay engaged, refreshed, and enthused about what's next.
Until August, ~Helen Osborne