The American Medical Association Ethical Force Program has released a consensus report that offers guidelines and measurable expectations for healthcare organizations to improve communications with patients of diverse backgrounds. More than 22 million people do not speak English well and 95 million lack the literacy skills to understand basic written instructions--a communication gap that can lead to medical errors, says the AMA. The report advises institutions to take a patient-centered approach to healthcare communications by understanding their specific patient demographics and communication needs, employing a workforce that reflects the diversity of its patient population, educating employees on patients’ cultural beliefs that affect healthcare decisions, inviting community groups to help devise communication policies, and determining literacy levels in developing strategies for communicating medical information. “If organizations put greater emphasis on effective communication, health care quality and safety will improve," says AMA board member Dr. Ardis Hoven. Click here to download the report.
The AMA’s recommendations are also relevant for communicating financial issues with patients. HFMA’s PATIENT FRIENDLY BILLING® project provides guidance on how to make financial communications clear, correct, concise, and patient-friendly. The latest report from the project outlines how healthcare professionals can respond to consumerism in health care, particularly with respect to price transparency.
