Patient-centered healthcare, a cornerstone of the new healthcare reform law, means physicians and other healthcare providers must provide more “user-friendly” care. Medical jargon may confuse and overwhelm patients, causing them to misunderstand prevention and treatment instructions and experience adverse outcomes.
The teach back method, where physicians ask patients to re-call or repeat the instructions they were just told, is one strategy to ensure patients understand how to keep themselves healthy.
Related Articles on Patient Literacy:
Parents’ English Proficiency Linked to Length of Hospital Stay for Pediatric Patients
Joint Commission Proposes New Accreditation Requirements to Improve Communication
