the missing piece in health care reform: patient & caregiver roles

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How To Be A

SavvySavvyPatient/Patient/CaregivCaregiv

ererUse Arrows Below to Advance Slides

www.savvypatienttoolkit.com 2

DefinitionDefinition

A “Savvy Patient / Caregiver” is a person who:– Is Well-informed / Knowledgeable– Has Practical Understanding & Ability to Apply– Is Intelligent about a Specific Subject

• Him or her self or the person for whom Him or her self or the person for whom he or she is a caregiverhe or she is a caregiver

Personal Health Literacy


Cutting Health Care Costs: The Missing Piece

Studies show involved patients have better results & lower costs“Savvy Patients” do even better…One test, one appointment, one error at a time, patients & caregivers can make a BIG differenceThis presentation shows How & the Benefits


Cutting Health Care Costs: The Missing Piece

Government, Providers, Insurance Companies all working to improve the systemElectronic Health Records, Patient Information Websites & Disease Management Programs help

BUT…None truly Empower Patients to Take Control of & Manage their own careThere are no Patient Health Management Systems coupled with education on How to Be A Patient / Caregiver


Goal

How people can take control of their health care by becoming Savvy Patients

&/or Caregivers


How to Do It

Decide to be more involved in their and / or another’s healthcareBecome:– The Leader & Coordinator of their healthcare team– Partner with each member of the team


How to Do ItImprove their personal health literacy by– Setting up & using a Health Record

Management System• That provides fingertip access to their information• Enables use of that information in the Right Way at the

Right Time – tell a better story– Research

• Becoming knowledgeable • Knowing what questions to ask & when to ask them


Outcomes“Savvy Patients /

Caregivers” who:Are able to interact more effectively with healthcare providers to help them think & better help themMake joint decisionsObtain timelier & appropriate treatment plans / best for you or your loved oneKnow how to & can prevented medical errorsAre better stewards of their health & healthcare $$$ - <costsLess time away from workHave better outcomes & more Confidence & Peace of Mind


WHY People Aren’t Savvy Patients

Never Taught How To Be Patients / Caregivers– Don’t know how to tell story– Lack Personal Health Management System– Lack knowledge about “Medical-related Things”


Results

Don’t know how to be involved or tell our stories effectivelyTend to leave everything up to the doctorOften feel intimidated by medical professionalsFeel powerless to do anything about quality of care or to fix the system


Impact

Lack of follow through of medication, therapy or treatment plans? (50-65% Do Not follow plan)

Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis (15% are misdiagnosis)

Medical errorsLevel of care unsatisfactoryHigher health care cost


Medicine was rather simple


Medical System is Complex A doctor for every body part

Now…


Ideal: Patient’s Medical Team Meets Regularly


Reality: Each has a Piece of Patient’s Story

Specialist #2

Specialist #1


The Missing Piece

Who Has It?


Job of Patients / Caregivers

Help Collect & Connect The Pieces


Individually Patients / Caregivers CAN Make A Difference

Receive more timely & accurate diagnosesPrevent duplicate testingDecrease number appointmentsPrevent many kinds of errors– Especially medication & use of over-the-counter

drugs

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Making the Transition to a

Savvy Savvy Patient / Patient /

CaregiverCaregiver


Key Roles & Responsibilities

1st Change Mind Set & Make Personal Decision

To be an engaged & active participantTo do personal preventative & health habits activitiesTo be a good StorytellingTo have a Personal Health Management SystemEngage in personal health education


Details of Roles & Responsibilities

Engaged & Active = Willing to:– Be a Leader & Coordinator of healthcare team & Partner

each member– Be open & honest– Share everything with every provider

Storytelling:– Be prepared

• With thorough, complete & accurate story • To remind of & connect numerous pieces• To fill gaps



Management System – Good records with fingertip access to details & test results

Appointment– Questions written & prioritized– Have advocate aid during appointment – Prep while wait

Research - Knowledgeable– Conditions, medications, procedures, etc.



Ask educated questionsMake joint decisionsGood follow throughGood outcomes


Health Care ProviderRoles & Responsibilities

Expert - Explain What, Where, Why, When & How

Consultant / Coach - Discuss options & Make recommendations, not decisions Listener - Reflect back concerns & goalsEducator - Understandable language & suggest resourcesPartner - Mutual Respect

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Communication


“Doctors desperately need patients & their families & friends to help them think…

…when the patient Tells His Story, the patient gives cues and clues the doctor may not be

thinking about.”How Doctors Think, 2007

Jerome Groopman, MD

Communication


Desired Effect of Your Story

Get immediate attention of your clinicianHelp her be a good listener & prevent interruption Tell for maximum benefit– Right sequence & right details– Allow connections with his knowledge bank– Enable her to think of alternatives & prevent premature

diagnosisProvide him with information he may not think to ask about


Story & Discussion

The Right InformationRight Information

In the Right WayRight Way

At the Right TimeRight Time


Questions

– The Right QuestionsRight Questions

– In the Right WayRight Way– At the Right TimeRight Time


Fingertip Access to Questions

Critical Question Series Times When Patients / Caregivers Need to Know the Right Questions

1. Interviewing New Provider 2. Appointment Preparation 3. Test or Procedure / Especially Invasive4. Test Results Outside the Normal Range5. New Diagnosis / Chronic Condition 6. New Medication / Change in Medication 7. Research 8. Surgery9. Hospital

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Personal Health Management

System


Needs to Be More Than Documentation

It’s one thing to compile personal medical information…

It’s another thing to have the Right Details & know how to Use

that information

How It’s Compiled makes A BIG difference , too!


Goals of A Personal Health Management System

Forms constructed in a way that help connect the pieces of medical story when:– Capturing medical history– Tracking ongoing care in a meaningful way– Preparing to tell story effectively & efficiently w/ the right

details– Providing fingertip access to medical information in any

circumstance – Helping patient / caregiver help their provider think &

connect the pieces


Health System Components

Personal & Family Medical HistoryAppointments – Before, During & AfterSymptom TrackingChronic Condition TrackingMedication ManagementTracking & Using Test & Procedure ResultsResearch – Conditions. Procedures, Medications, etc.Making & Tracking Lifestyle ChangesUsing Your System in the HospitalTracking Medical ExpensesAdvance Directives


Keys To Effective Care

Storytelling – Right Information, Right Way, Right Time

Questions– Right ???, Right Way, Right Time

Ability to Answer Provider Questions – Fingertip access to information

Joint Decisions – Plan of action


Benefits

Better Quality Care

Less chance of & able to Prevent medical errors

Save money & help Cut healthcare costs


Greater Confidence & Peace of Mind about care

Biggest Benefit for Patient / Caregiver


Biggest Benefit for Employer

Less employee absence & greater productivity


Offerings

Lunch & Learn SeriesIn Person & via Teleconference

Self-Directed Online Course www.SavvyPatientSchool.com

Signed Book w/ or w/o CDw/ Free Critical Question Series

Free e-newsletterwww.SavvyPatientToolkit.com

Access to Patient Advocates TeleSeriesAvailable to Speak In-Person & via Teleconference

E-mail form on websites

Phone: 336-529-0441

the missing piece in health care reform: patient & caregiver roles

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