Health Communication

Boston University Celebrates Health Literacy Month & Health Communication Awareness

BOSTON, Massachusetts. October 1, 2009 — Boston University’s online Master of Science in Health Communication program is proud to recognize and support Health Literacy Month. Building better communication between health care professionals and patients is an important component of creating efficient patient care, and it’s an endeavor supported by Boston University’s online health communication program.
October [...]

Understanding the Current State of Health Literacy

Health literacy is an important but often overlooked concept in the health care industry. October is Health Literacy Month and to address the importance of communication between physicians, therapists, clinicians, and their patients, the Institute for Healthcare Advancement recently held their Health Literacy Conference in Irvine, CA.
At the conference, Dr. Pauline Hamel, a professor at Boston [...]

Boston University Making an Impact in Global Health

As an innovative and forward-thinking leader in health research and health care practice, Boston University is continuously taking steps to increase its involvement in important health issues. Recently, Boston University deepened its commitment to the global fight against disease by creating and funding the Center for Global Health and Development. “This is an unprecedented foray [...]

Health Literacy Dilemma

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines Health Literacy as “the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”
Poor health literacy among the American population is an area of growing concern for two key reasons:

Poor health literacy results in a reduction in the [...]

Attributes of Effective Health Communication

Accuracy: The content is valid and without errors of fact, interpretation, or judgement.
Availability: The content (whether targeted messageing or other information) is delivered or placed where the audience can access it. Placement varies according to audience, message complexity, and purpose, ranging from inter-personal and social networks to billboards and mass transit signs to prime-time TV [...]

Health Communication Defined

Health Communication encompasses the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance health. It links the domains of communication and health and is increasingly recognized as a necessary element of efforts to improve personal and public health.
“The art and technique of informing, influencing, and motivating individual, institutional, [...]

Careers

Health Communication offers a myriad of exciting career pathways. Health care, in its many forums and expressions, is in great need of talented written, oral, and organizational communicators. An education in Health Communication can position you to successfully work in a number of capacities and in a broad set of professional positions.
Some of the most [...]

Interview with Helen Osborne

Recognized as an expert in health literacy, Helen Osborne M.Ed., OTR/L helps health professionals communicate in ways patients and their families can understand. She does so through a range of consulting, training, and writing services.
Helen is president of her own business, Health Literacy Consulting, based in Natick, Massachusetts. She is also the founding director of [...]

Health Communication & Probiotics

This story was pitched to the ABC affiliate by our current BU Health Communication student, Zipporah Dvash, who is the assistant vice president of public affairs and development at the Long Island College Hospital, directly applying the concepts learned in her coursework with her professional work.
Probiotics Reported to Reduce Cold and Flu Symptoms in Children
A [...]

Boston University Launches New Online MSHC Program Website

New BU website provides prospective students with program information as well as relevant industry news and career resources for the rapidly emergent field of health communication.
BOSTON - Boston University’s College of Communication and Metropolitan College are proud to announce the official launch of the new online Master of Science in Health Communication website, http://healthcommunication.bu.edu/. In [...]