A new era of health literacy - expanded definitions, digital influences and rural inequities

February 21, 2022

The languages of medicine. First, there is the jargon-packed peer-to-peer language used by healthcare providers to discuss patient care. Second comes an even more elaborate language dedicated to specialty medical care. A third language exists because of the MSDRG system, or Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups. Different from providers’ clinical language, it is a language that belongs to data collection and billing — but it is also a language that providers must master.

Yet there is a fourth language that providers do understand — but don’t always speak fluently: the plain language used by their patients.  Read more.

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