Table 2.
Tools for Assessing and Improving Communication Practices
| Tool | Description | Available at |
|---|---|---|
| The Communication Climate Assessment Toolkit (C-CAT) | The C-CAT was designed to help organizations improve communication with all patient populations by addressing culture, language, and health literacy gaps | http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/the-ethical-force-program/patient-centered-communication/organizational-assessment-resources.page? |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 | ||
| Health Plan Organizational Assessment of Health Literacy Activities | An assessment tool examining organizational efforts to enhance health literacy and providing insight into areas that need attention. It is accompanied by a resource list and suggestions for areas of improvement | Downloadable pdf files at http://ahip.org/HealthLiteracy/ |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 | ||
| Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit19 | A toolkit that assesses primary care practices for health literacy considerations, raising staff awareness and indicating specific areas to work on. It is designed to help practices ensure that systems are in place to promote better understanding by all patients | http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/literacy/ |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 | ||
| Health Literacy: A Toolkit for Communicators | A toolkit outlining five fundamental steps to take when starting up a health literacy program, plain language initiative, or member-experience program. Links to dozens of resources and tools for making the business case are provided | http://www.ahip.org/healthliteracy/toolkit |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 | ||
| Toolkit for Starting Plain Language in Your Organization | A 10-step approach to help plain language project managers navigate managerial obstacles | http://centerforplainlanguage.org/toolkit/ |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 | ||
| Unified Health Communication: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency | A free, go-at-your-own-pace training to help health care professionals and students improve patient-provider communication. CME credit is available | http://www.hrsa.gov/publichealth/healthliteracy/index.html |
| Accessed November 29, 2011 |