Dr. Ruth Parker is Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is nationally recognized for her efforts in health literacy research, education, and health policy.
Dr. Parker’s accomplishments are many, including helping to develop the TOFHLA (Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults) and co-writing the health literacy definition included in many publications and initiatives including the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “Health Care Reform”).
In this podcast, Dr. Parker talks with Helen Osborne about:
- Why health literacy matters so much to her, and everyone else.
- Health literacy milestones, especially in the past ten years.
- Health literacy opportunities ahead in this era of health care reform.
More Ways to Learn:
- HealthCare.gov, “Understanding the Affordable Care Act.” Available at http://www.healthcare.gov/law/introduction/index.html
- HealthyPeople 2020, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx
- Institute of Medicine: Roundtable on Health Literacy. Learn more at http://www.iom.edu/Activities/PublicHealth/HealthLiteracy.aspx
- Nielsen-Bohlman L, Panzer AM, Kindig DA (ed) 2004. Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. The National Academies Press: Washington, DC.
- Osborne H (host), Baur C (guest). Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast #39: National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. June 8, 2010. Available at/2010/06/08/hlol-39-national-action-plan-to-improve-health-literacy/
- Osborne H (host), Clancy C (guest) Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast #27: CAHPS Health Literacy Item Set: An Interview with Dr. Carolyn Clancy.November 9, 2009. Available at /2009/11/09/hlol-27-cahps-health-literacy-item-set-an-interview-with-dr-carolyn-clancy/
- Parker R, Ratzan SC, “Health Literacy: A Second Decade of Distinction for Americans.” Journal of Health Communication, 2010;15 Suppl 2:20-33.
- Somers SA, Mahadevan R, “Health Literacy Implications of the Affordable Care Act,” Center for Health Care Strategies, November 2010. Available at http://www.chcs.org/publications3960/publications_show.htm?doc_id=1261193
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Second Edition (Updated 2018), by Helen Osborne. Relevant chapters include: 1, 27.
Read a transcript of this podcast.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download