Build Clear, Effective Patient Communication Skills

IHA’s PlainLanguage Pro (PLP) is an online, self-paced training that helps health professionals of all experience levels create patient-facing materials that are easier to understand and use.
You’ll build practical skills to apply health literacy principles across writing, design, and numeracy so patients can better understand information, follow instructions, and make informed decisions.

Learn to apply health literacy best practices in:

Design | Writing | Numeracy, including Tables | Forms | Graphs | Maps

See complete course content here. Participants earn Continuing Education Credits and a Certificate.

IHA recommends completing the IHA Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Communication Course before taking this course.

Bundle Option Available –  IHA’s Communications Program!  Combine PlainLanguage Pro with IHA’s Health Literacy Specialist Communication Course for a comprehensive knowledge + skills experience – ideal for health communication specialists.

Info Sheet Enroll Today!

Watch this overview video on IHA’s Plain Language skills course:

Plain Language Guide Health Literacy Guide Health Literacy Standards

What is Plain Language?

A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. For this reason, plan language varies by audience.

Plain language is more than just short words and short sentences – although those tactics are important guidelines for clear communication. Materials created in plain language is organized logically, and considers how the layout works for the audience.

Why Plain Language Matters

Clear communication improves understanding, supports safer decisions, and helps reduce avoidable errors and unnecessary utilization. Plain language helps healthcare organizations:

  • Reduce confusion
  • Improve adherence
  • Enhance safety
  • Build trust
  • Support equity

See IHA’s Plain Language Guide for complete information on Plain Language guidelines.


How to Enroll

Standard Price: $800

Current Online Price: $400 with discount code PLP24

Enroll today for $400 and save $400 (50%) from the regular program price of $800. Use the following code at checkout: PLP24. Enroll your team of 5+ for greater discounts!

Enroll Today! Enroll Your Team

Before enrolling, please view these short videos to help you get started:

Why Plain Language Matters

Clear communication improves understanding, supports safer decisions, and helps reduce avoidable errors and unnecessary utilization.

Plain language helps healthcare organizations:

  • Reduce confusion
  • Improve adherence
  • Enhance safety
  • Build trust
  • Support equity

What You’ll Learn

Through hands-on activities and guided exercises, you’ll learn how to:

Writing Principles

  • Write and design clear, patient-friendly materials
  • Communicate numbers and risk effectively
  • Design visuals such as tables, forms, and graphs that support understanding
  • Evaluate and improve materials using standard assessment tools

What’s Included

The course includes four focused modules:

Design Principles
Make information easier to read, find, and navigate
Writing Principles
Improve clarity, understanding, and relevance
Non-Continuous Text
Design effective tables, forms, graphs, and maps
Numeracy Principles
Present numbers clearly and meaningfully

Who Should Attend:

This program is ideal for individuals who:

  • Write, edit, design, or evaluate health or social service materials that must be easy to find, read, and understand.
  • Supervise writers or designers.
  • Ensure organizational documents comply with policies and regulations.

It is relevant for professionals in:

  • Federal, state, or local health and human service agencies.
  • Community-based organizations.
  • Healthcare systems.
  • Health insurance plans.
  • Human resources professionals
  • Pharmaceutical companies.
  • Marketing and advertising firms.
  • Disease-specific advocacy organizations
  • Professional organizations related to health and human services

For technical product or payment help, please use this online support form