Miscommunication Breaks Health Services, Part Three How Cultural Barriers Impact Patient Outcomes Summary: Cultural barriers are a component of miscommunication in health services. Understanding how cultural differences create health disparities in the medical field is essential. Many factors influence health, such as where an individual lives, their income level, and even the type of insurance…

Miscommunication Breaks Health Services, Part Two How Inadequate Clinical Handovers Impact Patient Outcomes Summary: Upon reviewing part one of this series, we can begin to estimate the monumental impact that miscommunication has on health care. Miscommunication severely impacts healthcare services in significant ways. We will continue exploring the significance of inadequate clinical handovers within this…

Miscommunication Breaks Health Services, Part One How Language Barriers Impact Patient Outcomes Summary: Communication is an integral part of healthcare. This involves communication between providers, from providers to patients, and from patients to providers. This triadic relationship requires the consistent and effective transfer of information. We will explore the significance of language barriers within this…

Guidelines to Patient Education All-or-Nothing Are patient education materials designed for all or only some? Summary: Understanding patient education materials can be challenging for people of all ages. But when patients have a non-native language as their first language, have reading disabilities, or just have difficulties in understanding complex information presented, this problem can be…

The Rise of Monkeypox How to Stay Protected? As monkeypox continues to spread, you should know how to identify its symptoms and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. Although there is no need to panic, everyone should stay informed to learn when to be cautious of contamination and aware of…

Towards Equity in Digital Patient Education Are digital patient materials easily accessible by those who need them most? Summary: The utilization of digital technology will only continue to expand in ways unimaginable. A crucial component of digital technology lies in its far-reaching nature. Thus, making it accessible from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Even amid…

Audiovisual Technologies Improve Patient Learning Modernizing teaching tools for improved outcomes Summary: Patient education materials that utilize audiovisual components may improve patient learning. Prior studies show that audiovisual teaching techniques have a significant impact on education. We will explore some of these studies’ results and possible reasons why audiovisual techniques have a stark impact on…

Towards A Patient-Centered Healthcare System SUMMARY Healthcare reform entails building health services around patients’ conditions and needs. Patient-centered healthcare focuses on delivering value to patients’ lives. In such a system, digital health technology exists as a tool to serve patients. HEALTHCARE DELIVERY Patient-centered healthcare, commonly touted among some healthcare professionals and advocates, entails a collaborative…

Low Health Literacy Costs Billions The Financial Impact of Low Health Literacy SUMMARY The prevalence of low health literacy in a population places a significant strain on a country’s economy. This article will detail the actual costs associated with low health literacy on a national and global scale. In addition, we will explore how digital…

Why is Health Literacy Important for Patient Health Outcomes SUMMARY: This piece will detail the importance of health literacy and health communication. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how much an impact online methods have in finding information. It revealed the extent to which misinformation has spread compared to science-based facts. Most importantly, the pandemic revealed a growing segment’s deep…

Patient education in the digital age How Can Digital Patient Education Improve Health Outcomes? Summary: In the age of digitalization, methodologies in current sectors will be innovated. This innovation within healthcare specifically will encompass various technologies, including but not limited to e-learning. This will detail why the ways that patients receive health information are valuable.…