Health Literacy Institute

Sue Stableford, M.P.H, M.S.B., Director

Reach out and engage your audience with clear health communication. Turn complexity into clarity using health literacy and plain language.

We can work with you to:

Assess your communication needs and plan a communication strategy
Research, develop, design, and test print and web-based materials
Speak at your meeting or conference
Partner on your research team or innovative project
Design curriculum and teach health literacy and health communication skills

Our prize winning track record includes:

20 years serving the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors
A nationally known Health Literacy Summer Institute held each year in Maine
Award-winning plain language projects
Participation in research and advocacy
Publication in professional journals
Reputation for excellence

Health literacy = universal challenge

Clear health communication = universal solution

The Challenge: Only 12% of American adults have Proficient health literacy skills. Most struggle to understand and use medication instructions, consent forms, directions for tests and procedures, care instructions, risk assessments, food labels, etc. As our population ages and diversifies, this challenge will grow. All health professionals need skills to meet the challenge.

The Impact: The Joint Commission, American Medical Association, and American Public Health Association identify health literacy as fundamental to:

Patient safety
Patient-centered care and shared decision making
Accreditation and legal compliance
Cost effective systems
Activated care givers and patients
Healthier communities

The Solution: Clear, effective communication based on principles of plain language text, organization and visual design increases understanding. These principles can be applied across:

materials
media
spoken and recorded messaging
presentations
learning systems

Culture, Diversity, Accessibility: Effective communication incorporates attention to and respect for culture, diversity, and accessibility. It reflects principles of many disciplinessocial marketing, adult education, health promotion, cognitive psychology, document designto increase understanding for all.

Contact us

Email: SStableford@une.edu
Tel: 207-221-4567
Fax: 207-523-1914

Find us here as well:
www.HealthLiteracyInstitute.net
www.ClearLanguageGroup.com