Readability Checker for Healthcare Writing
Check patient education materials, health communications, and clinical documents against the readability standards recommended by leading health organizations.
Breakdown
Readability Standards in Healthcare
Why readability matters for patients
Nearly half of American adults read at or below a 6th grade level, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Patient education materials written above this level lead to poor health outcomes, medication errors, and reduced treatment adherence.
Recommended standards
The American Medical Association (AMA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all recommend writing patient-facing materials at a 6th grade reading level or below.
The SMOG standard
The SMOG Index is the preferred readability formula for health communications because it is specifically designed for health literacy assessment. Unlike other formulas, SMOG focuses entirely on polysyllabic words — the primary barrier to patient comprehension.
Healthcare Readability Targets by Document Type
Patient education materials
Discharge instructions, medication guides, and condition fact sheets should target Grade 5–6. Use plain language, active voice, and short sentences. Avoid medical jargon wherever possible.
Informed consent forms
Despite their legal nature, informed consent documents should be written as clearly as possible. Research shows patients who understand consent forms are more likely to comply with treatment and less likely to experience adverse outcomes.
Public health communications
Public health announcements, vaccination information, and community health materials should target Grade 6–8 to reach the broadest possible audience. The CDC's Clear Communication Index is a useful companion tool for these materials.
Plain Language Tips for Healthcare Writers
Replace medical jargon
Use everyday words wherever accuracy allows: "heart attack" instead of "myocardial infarction," "high blood pressure" instead of "hypertension," "swelling" instead of "edema." When technical terms are necessary, define them immediately in plain language.
Use active voice
"Take this medication with food" is clearer than "This medication should be taken with food." Active voice is shorter, more direct, and easier for patients to act on — especially important for instructions and safety information.
Keep sentences short
Aim for an average sentence length of 10–15 words in patient materials. Each sentence should contain one clear instruction or piece of information. Patients under stress or with low health literacy process shorter sentences much more reliably.