The End of Scientific Jargon?
How AI can Change Communication in Healthcare
We’ve all been there, receiving patient information through healthcare portals or mail, only to stare at the jargon, written in a language alien to us. Naturally, we turn to Google, which leads us down the rabbit hole of internet discussions where everyone’s comparing their results like kitchen diagnosticians. Before we know it, we’re more confused than when we started, armed with nothing but a headache and a list of even more questions.
While trying to encrypt this cryptic message, we go through it one word at the time, piecing together clues to uncover the hidden truth.
Personally, I think we can do better than this, and here is why:
Healthcare communication often leaves patients feeling excluded, uncertain, or confused. Despite the growing availability of online portals for accessing test results and medical records, the information is often designed for clinicians, not patients. Technical terms like 'HbA1c,' 'erythrocyte,' or 'edema' are precise for medical professionals, but confusing to most people.
This creates a significant barrier to patient understanding, trust, and empowerment. Addressing this gap is crucial. We must implement accessible tools, leveraging existing technology to bridge the divide.
Making Healthcare Information Accessible
One of the biggest challenges patients face is decoding medical jargon. When lab results list acronyms like “ALT” or “WBC” without explanation, patients are left searching online for clarity. This not only wastes time, but also exposes them to potentially misleading or irrelevant information. Even worse, they might misinterpret findings or become unnecessarily anxious over minor deviations that lack context.
An AI-driven healthcare portal could solve this by offering dynamic, real-time support. For example:
Interactive Features: Clicking or hovering over terms like “RBC” would display a brief explanation in plain language: “RBC refers to red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. Your result is within the normal range.”
Tailored Language Levels: Patients could choose their preferred level of detail, switching from technical language to plain explanations. In plain language mode, “erythrocyte count” would automatically become “red blood cell count,” ensuring accessibility while still preserving the technical information for those who want it.
Beyond lab results, these tools should extend to medical notes and post-visit summaries. If a doctor’s note mentions “distal tibia edema,” the system could rewrite this for patients as “swelling in the lower part of the leg.” This type of straightforward explanation eliminates the need for patients to guess or search for information elsewhere. After visiting doctor’s office, patients would have this information in their portal, so they can revisit this information whenever they wish to.
The Role of AI: Supporting, Not Replacing, Doctors
Healthcare AI isn’t meant to replace the crucial role of doctors. Sensitive or complex findings, particularly abnormal test results, should always be communicated directly by healthcare providers. The emotional and contextual support a doctor provides during these moments cannot be substituted by a machine.
However, there are situations where a patient might not hear directly from their doctor, such as when results are within normal limits or require only minor preventative measures. In these cases, AI can bridge the gap, helping patients interpret their results without unnecessary stress. For instance:
If cholesterol levels are slightly elevated, the portal might explain:
“Your cholesterol level is slightly above the normal range. This is not an immediate concern but could benefit from small dietary changes and increased activity. Your doctor can provide more guidance at your next visit.”
Such tools empower patients to take proactive steps while maintaining trust in the healthcare system.
Addressing Systemic Challenges
In cultures where medical professionals are seen as unquestionable authorities, patients may hesitate to admit they don’t understand their results. Similarly, some individuals may feel uncomfortable asking for clarification due to social or linguistic barriers. These challenges make it even more important to provide tools that offer accessible, patient-friendly explanations without requiring additional effort from the patient. Or simply as a refresher, when looking into your older results.
An AI-powered system that translates technical terms into plain language and provides tailored explanations ensures equitable access to information. By doing so, it helps reduce disparities in healthcare literacy, particularly in communities where language proficiency or cultural norms may limit understanding.
Empowering Patients Through Context and Clarity
One of the most pressing issues in healthcare is the lack of context provided with test results. A term like “negative result” may be technically accurate but can easily be misinterpreted by patients as bad news. Similarly, abnormal findings often lack sufficient explanation to alleviate unnecessary worry. For example:
Instead of simply stating, “Your ALT is elevated,” a patient-friendly explanation might read:
“Your ALT, a liver enzyme, is slightly higher than normal. This could indicate mild liver irritation but is often caused by temporary factors like medication or diet. Your doctor will consider this along with other tests.”
Patients deserve this level of clarity. It not only reduces confusion but also strengthens trust in the healthcare system by showing that their concerns are taken seriously.
Practical Features for Better Understanding
A healthcare portal enhanced by AI should prioritize features that cater to diverse patient needs and promote clarity. One key improvement is the introduction of dynamic explanations. For example, when a patient encounters technical terms like "ALT" or "HbA1c," the system could provide detailed yet approachable definitions directly within the portal. By hovering over or clicking on a term, patients could access concise explanations in plain language, such as:
"ALT is an enzyme found in your liver. Slightly higher levels might indicate temporary irritation, but your doctor will evaluate this in the context of your other tests."
Another essential feature is customizable language levels. Patients could adjust the system to display information in common, conversational terms or retain the technical details if they prefer. For example, switching to plain language mode would replace "erythrocytes" with "red blood cells," while still offering a deeper explanation for those who want to learn more.
This approach could extend to post-visit summaries as well. Often, medical notes use terms like "edema" or "distal tibia," which might confuse patients. Translating this language into everyday speech, such as describing “swelling in the lower part of the leg’’, ensures patients leave their appointments with a clear understanding of their care.
Preventative guidance is another powerful tool. When test results are within normal ranges but trending toward a threshold, the portal could offer practical advice to help patients manage their health. For instance, a note about slightly elevated cholesterol might include suggestions for small dietary or lifestyle changes that could help maintain healthy levels.
Finally, privacy is essential. Patients should have the freedom to adjust these features, like language preferences, privately in their portal settings. This ensures they can engage with the information in a way that feels safe and empowering, without fear of judgment or stigma.
Here is a summary of the features:
Dynamic Explanations: Detailed yet approachable explanations for medical terms, available at a click or hover.
Customizable Levels of Detail: Options to toggle between technical terms and plain language, allowing patients to adjust language from the settings to their comfort level.
Post-Visit Summaries in Plain Language: Clear, simplified summaries of doctors’ notes, giving patients a complete understanding of their diagnosis, treatment, or next steps.
Preventative Guidance: When results are in the normal range but approaching a threshold, the system could suggest actionable steps, such as dietary changes or lifestyle adjustments.
Privacy Features: Patients should have the option to set their preferred language level privately, ensuring they can engage without fear of judgment.
These tools ensure that patients can access their information with confidence, fostering engagement and reducing reliance on unverified internet searches.
Ethical Perspective: Healthcare That Includes Everyone
Healthcare is a cornerstone of any functioning society, yet it often excludes people due to overly complex language and inaccessible communication. It is our moral duty to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to understanding their own health. This isn’t about convenience, it’s about fairness and equity.
Clear communication in healthcare is a fundamental necessity, not only a practical improvement. Without it, we risk creating barriers that prevent individuals from taking control of their well-being. For many, healthcare already feels overwhelming. The system must not add to that burden by requiring patients to interpret cryptic language or piece together their own understanding through external tools.
When we make something as essential as healthcare inaccessible through difficult language, we undermine its very purpose: to serve and benefit everyone equally. By adopting tools that simplify and clarify, we are not only improving care but also fulfilling a societal obligation to make healthcare truly inclusive.
This is how we build trust and collaboration between patients and providers, a system where everyone is empowered, not excluded.
Warmly,
Riikka
