Then and Now: Creating aPlain Language Culture

Karen Baker, MHSSVP/Consumer Experience

Center for Plain LanguageOctober 9, 2012

Medical gobbledygook robs people of their autonomy. Without understanding, they have no real say in their care.  

Plain languagegives them back

their say.

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”--Don KemperHealthwise Founder and CEO

Today’s Goals

• Value

• History

• Today

• You

Nonprofit Organization Since 1975

Our mission: To help people make better health decisions

The Plain Language Value Proposition

Helping People Understand = Mission and Revenue

There are all these huge words and ambiguous terms, and you only vaguely understand any of it.

--Anna Stuart

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Anna’s Story

Taking Medical Jargon Out of Doctor Visits, Wall Street Journal, July 2010

Our Story: A Long and Continuing Road

Plain Language Milestones 1975-Present

Plain Language and Healthwise Today

An Enterprise-Wide Commitment

The 3 Ps: Personal, Plain, Possible

The single biggest problem in communication is

the illusion that it has taken place.

--George Bernard Shaw

Nobelprize.org

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A Path To Success

It’s really not

as daunting as

it looks!

Six (Only Six!) Steps To Success

1. Identify the Benefits

2. Get Support at the Top

3. Train (Skills)

4. Commit (Hearts and Minds)

5. Include Users

6. Start Small—But Start

The Appeal of Plain Language

It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like

‘What about lunch?’

--Winnie the Pooh

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