Health care professionals must become “medically bilingual,” that is, learn to speak both medical jargon and plain language. I like to ask myself, “How would I explain this to my mother?”

When a physician is explaining her/his findings and recommendations, if the patient does not understand, he/she may not even ask for clarification out of fear of appearing ignorant. While medical schools are working to train doctors to speak using everyday language, patients can take some simple steps to avoid making this mistake: ask three simple questions:

1. What is my main problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why is it important for me to do this?

And if your physician answers in a way that is confusing or loaded with unintelligible jargon, stop her/him and ask for them to explain in simpler language.

The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) created the Ask Me 3^TM patient education program “to promote communication between health care providers and patients in order to improve health outcomes.” When patients clearly understand health information and instructions, they make fewer mistakes and can better manage their own healthcare. The NPSF offers patient brochures and other reference materials, and created this video to assist in improving patient-doctor communication.

While it is important that patients ask questions, and doctors answer using understandable language, it is also important to acknowledge that the current health system does not reward physicians for taking time to speak with patients. Regulation needs to be enacted or changed so that physicians can be reimbursed by health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and other plans for the time spent. It will likely save the system money in the long run as well.

What other steps can be taken to improve doctor-patient communication? Tell us about it!

Fortunately for the newspaper’s readers, the journalist goes on to include a response from Geni Alexander, public information officer for the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, who said, “We would be very careful basing” programs “strictly off that study” because it makes the case for technology that TeleVox sells. The article goes on to cite other quality resources that support some of the study’s findings while not endorsing the TeleVox healthcare product line, which includes automated messaging systems, website hosting, and other tools “not just stay in touch but actually engage their patients while saving money in the process” (from the company website).

Health sciences libraries are in the business of helping patrons find evidence-based health and medical information. Here at Eccles Library, we can point you to quality information resources — websites, journals and more — on everything from health statistics, to personal/consumer health, to sites that address rumors and hoaxes on the Web. Got a question? Just ask!