Health Literacy Expert, Helen Osborne, M.Ed., OTR/L Marks Fifth Annual Health Literacy Month with Release of New Book.

SUDBURY, Mass. -- -- Innovative Guide Offers Practical, Realistic, Cost-Effective, Time-Efficient Ways to Communicate Important Health Messages --

Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Inc. is pleased to announce publication of Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate your Health Message, a one-of-a-kind guide to help health professionals improve patient communication. With this book, recognized health literacy expert and founder of Health Literacy Month, Helen Osborne M.Ed., OTR/L, addresses the issue that too many health professionals face today - communicating in ways patients, families, and employees can understand.

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message is an easy-to-use handbook intended for busy health professionals. It is filled with ideas and strategies that can be used in everyday practice, and is designed to teach the key principles and strategies of effective health communication in an easy-to-read, informal manner.

According to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nearly half of all American adults -- 90 million people -- have difficulty understanding and acting on health information. Research also shows that adults with limited health literacy have less knowledge of disease management, report poorer health status and are less likely to use preventive services.

"Considering that nearly half of all American adults have difficulty understanding health information, clear communication of health messages can make all the difference in patient care," notes Osborne.

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, case managers, public health specialists, practice managers, health care educators, students and family caregivers will all benefit from this practical and innovative resource about health communication.

Visit www.jbpub.com for more information on the book.

About Helen Osborne

Recognized as an expert in health literacy, Helen Osborne M.Ed., OTR/L helps health professionals communicate in ways patients, families, and employees can understand. Helen is president of Health Literacy Consulting based in Natick, Massachusetts. She is also the founding director of Health Literacy Month - a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of understandable health information. To learn more about Health Literacy Month, go to www.healthliteracymonth.org. To learn more about Helen Osborne and Health Literacy Consulting, please visit www.healthliteracy.com.

About Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.

J&B, an independent publisher headquartered in Sudbury, Massachusetts, is the eighth largest college publisher in the United States, publishing text, professional, and reference books and a variety of multimedia and online products. In addition to nursing, health science, and allied health, J&B is widely recognized in the fields of mathematics, computer science, life sciences, physical sciences, medicine, health administration, and public safety. Strategic partnerships with dozens of prestigious organizations such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Geriatrics Society, Emergency Nurses Association, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Safety Council, American Heart Association, American Dietetics Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics, have helped J&B become a respected leader in health care publishing.