Helen Osborne
M.Ed., OTR/L
MA, USHelen is president of Health Literacy Consulting, founder of Health Literacy Month, and producer/host of the podcast series Health Literacy Out Loud. Helen also is a member of the national Patient Centered Outcomes Research Initiative (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Communication & Dissemination Research.
Helen brings clinical experience, educational training, and patient perspective to all her work. She speaks about health literacy at conferences worldwide. She also serves as a plain language writer/editor on a wide range of health-related materials. Helen is author of several books, including the award-winning Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition that is considered by many as the most important health literacy text today. In 2017, Helen was honored to receive the esteemed Walter C Alvarez Award for excellence in health communication from the American Medical Writers Association.
Helen is president of Health Literacy Consulting, founder of Health Literacy Month, and producer/host of the podcast series Health Literacy Out Loud. Helen also is a member of the national Patient Centered Outcomes Research Initiative (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Communication & Dissemination Research.
Helen brings clinical experience, educational training, and patient perspective to all her work. She speaks about health literacy at conferences worldwide. She also serves as a plain language writer/editor on a wide range of health-related materials. Helen is author of several books, including the award-winning Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition that is considered by many as the most important health literacy text today. In 2017, Helen was honored to receive the esteemed Walter C Alvarez Award for excellence in health communication from the American Medical Writers Association.
Health Literacy: What It Is, Why It Matters, Ways You Can Help
Helen Osborne gives an overview about health literacy and shares how-to best practices that your audience can use right away. This presentation works well as a stand-alone keynote (plenary) address or an introduction to workshops that follow. Content is tailored for audiences of all sizes and levels of health literacy savvy. Topics include:
- Why health information is difficult to understand
- Health literacy definitions and examples
- Factors that...
Plain Language: Writing for Understanding
This half-day or full-day workshop is about writing health information in ways that patients and the public can understand. Helen Osborne introduces plain language strategies, shows before and after examples, and offers exercises for participants to practice as they learn. Helen also addresses ways to assess a document's readability and usability. As is her style, Helen not only talks about what to do but also encourages participants to practice on their own...
Multiplying Our Strategies to Communicate Numbers
Helen Osborne will highlight why numbers are difficult for many people to understand and share examples of ways to communicate numbers more clearly. Workshop participants will be invited to play a game designed to brainstorm and share strategies. The goal is to multiply knowledge about effective ways to communicate numbers. Topics include:
- Why numbers are difficult for many people to understand.
- Strategies to communicate numbers more...
Take Action: Be a Health Literacy Hero
Helen Osborne will lead a series of activities designed to help participants move from general health literacy know-how to specific and realistic action-planning. The goal of this dynamic session is that participants leave prepared to start doing what's needed to improve health literacy in their setting. This works best as the closing session for a longer conference. Topics include:
- Identifying key concepts heard, learned, or introduced earlier in the...
The Ethics of Simplicity
Helen Osborne coined the term "ethics of simplicty" to convey the many choices that writers make as they translate complicated health information into plain language. In this workshop, she frames dilemmas that writers often struggle with and facilitates a discussion about solutions. Topics include:
- The power of medical writers
- What gets lost when simplifying information
- Case scenario and small group...
Ways to Talk with Your Doctor (consumer presentation)
Health communication is a two-way conversation. Patients and clinicians each must communicate in ways the other can understand. In this workshop, Helen Osborne teaches practical tips that patients, caregivers, and the public can use when talking with health professionals. This presentation works well for a wide range of audiences and settings. It is usually about one hour and often paired with Helen's presentations for health professionals....
