Use AI to quality-check your patient discharge instructions by simulating the reading experience of someone with low health literacy.

Before handing discharge instructions to a patient, paste them into ChatGPT or Claude and ask it to read them as if it were someone with limited medical knowledge and reading skills. Ask the AI to flag every part that might confuse or overwhelm a patient who's anxious, tired, or has low health literacy. This goes beyond finding jargon — it helps you spot sentences that are too long, instructions that assume too much background knowledge, or lists that feel overwhelming. Once the AI flags problem areas, ask it to suggest specific rewrites that break complex ideas into smaller steps, use everyday comparisons, and prioritize the most critical actions. You can also ask it to simulate follow-up questions a confused patient might ask, which helps you anticipate what needs clarification before the patient even leaves. This technique transforms AI into a stand-in for the real-world reader, catching accessibility issues you might miss when you're too close to the material. Always review AI suggestions carefully and verify all clinical content for accuracy before using any revised instructions with patients. This is a quality review tool, not a replacement for your clinical judgment or your facility's approved education materials.

February 24, 2026