Patient Engagement
This element is essential for a couple of reasons. It places the patient`s health as the issue of utmost concern. In this case it is confirmed that patients are in a position to access the right care with minimal risk involved ( Clinicspectrum, 2015 ). The patient is also in a position to clearly comprehend the procedures involved and, hence, come up with more informed decisions regarding their condition. This idea is especially useful for online portals, where the patients are seeking to assess their health information. Reducing the workload on the patient`s portal is another right way of engaging the patient. There are times when most of the work is offloaded to the portal held by the patient making it more difficult for them to follow their condition ( Clinicspectrum, 2015 ). This is bound to be ineffective leading them to experience retrogression in regards to their condition. This is mostly done in situations involving individuals` or hospitals` personal benefit.
A good scenario where an online portal may be engaged may involve sending the required essentials regarding the patient`s condition to them vial the portal. By reading some of the aspects regarding their condition, it makes them more knowledgeable and also assists in reducing the costs incurred from telephone calls by the patient as they seek to know more about what they are experiencing (Clinicspectrum, 2015). Once the information has been sent, the physician is also expected to follow up with the patient and engage them in a conversation on their condition. This is bound to be essential since it makes the patient feel more comfortable. Human interactions are undoubtedly resourceful since they connect the person offering the services to the one who is receiving it and, hence, offers reassurance to them. Healthcare providers have a duty to not only provide healthcare but also to ensure patients end up feeling comfortable and positive regarding their condition ( Irizarry, Dabbs & Curran, 2015 ). One cannot, therefore, rule out personal communication between the physician and the patient.
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Patient Centered Healthcare
Patient Centered Medicine (PCM) has a specific focus on a patient`s wellness and not on their sickness (HPCAtube, 2013). PCM has helped the healthcare world in a lot of ways. For instance, it has incorporated scenarios involving seeing an interacting with the patient more even when they are well. Some of the acquaintances may provide opportunities to engage the patient to maintain good healthcare and even participate in becoming more physically active ( Epstein, Fiscella, Lesser & Stange, 2010 ). In instances involving patients suffering from conditions such as diabetes, the dietician can offer them a well recorded diet which is in a position to control the illness. PCM further assists in building ties between individuals by involving family members who in turn build the patient`s support system leading them to progress faster in attaining full recovery. Patient centered care improves the patient`s health and keeps them proactive. Concurrently, by keeping the patient well it successfully manages to control healthcare related costs. One`s experience as a patient, therefore, ends up becoming more satisfying, leading them to live a longer and healthier life (HPCAtube, 2013). Further still, hundreds of millions in healthcare costs are saved through this incentive.
Despite the effectiveness surrounding PCM, obstacles are also bound to occur. For instance the reduced level of staffing experience is likely to impact negatively on PCM ( Epstein et al., 2010 ). This occurs where the healthcare personnel handling the patient are unaware of how to go about offering care and assistance to them when they are not suffering from any medical condition. High staff workloads and time pressures are also bound to impede the process ( Epstein & Street, 2011 ). With the healthcare personnel focusing on hospital obligations assigned to them, it becomes increasingly difficult to focus their attention elsewhere. Physical resource and environmental constrains also play a role in barring the process ( Epstein & Street, 2011 ). Whenever resources are not made available to the healthcare workers, it becomes difficult for them to engage their patients through PCM. Finally, unsupportive staff attitudes have also been presented as part of the greatest hindrances to PCM. This occurs where not every member of staff is enthusiastic about engaging patients outside the context of their work environment. What most of them care about is participating in activities that are bound to enhance their own personal welfare.
References
Clinicspectrum (2015, Feb 25). Patient Engagement- Right Reasons Vs Wrong Reasons. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7icG5HI10U&feature=youtu.be
Epstein, R. M., & Street, R. L. (2011). The values and value of patient-centered care.
Epstein, R. M., Fiscella, K., Lesser, C. S., & Stange, K. C. (2010). Why the nation needs a policy push on patient-centered health care. Health affairs , 29 (8), 1489-1495.
HPCAtube (2013, Apr 16). What is Patient-Centered Health Care? [Vide file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgdBXWUZcrM&feature=youtu.be
Irizarry, T., Dabbs, A. D., & Curran, C. R. (2015). Patient portals and patient engagement: a state of the science review. Journal of medical Internet research , 17 (6), e148.
