Assignment task:
Step 1: Provide an example of a time when you actively encouraged your patient(s) to be involved in their own care. Describe how the patient's action made a difference in their own health. How is patient-centered care supported, or not supported, in your health facility?
Respond to two of your peers who evaluated different characters from your own. Do you agree with the POC your peer identified? Can you identify any additional challenges or interventions not noted by your peer?
Please Only Respond To the Two Discussion Responses Below
Response #1
My experience with a patient named Mrs. K who has diabetes serves as an example of encouraging patient involvement in their own healthcare. Mrs. K has been having trouble controlling her blood sugar levels and has experienced episodes of both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia on a regular basis. Having come to understand the importance of actively involving patients, I decided to take a more cooperative approach.
I began by giving Mrs. K some information about diabetes, its effects, and the need of managing one's lifestyle. We looked at how blood sugar levels are affected by medication, diet, and activity. Together, we decide on realistic and doable goals for her blood sugar levels, food, and workout regimen. I introduced Mrs. K to self-monitoring tools, such as a glucose monitor and a diabetes management software. I gave her instructions on how to use these devices to track her food intake, exercise, and blood sugar levels. We scheduled regular in-person and virtual meetings to assess her progress, resolve any roadblocks, and adjust her treatment plan as necessary (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015).
Mrs. K took full responsibility for managing her own health. She diligently monitored her blood glucose levels, meticulously documented her meals, and increased her physical activity by going on frequent walks. Furthermore, she demonstrated initiative by showing up to her visits prepared with questions and notes about her health. It did not take long for Mrs. K's blood sugar levels to stabilize. The patient's HbA1c readings dropped from 9.5% to 7.0%, indicating better long-term control of blood glucose. She lost fifteen pounds, which led to further improvements in her general health and vitality. Mrs. K had fewer hypoglycemic episodes, which lessened the possibility that she might suffer serious repercussions.
To encourage patient participation, our hospital provides self-monitoring tools, instructional materials, and digital health platforms. In order to deliver patient-centered care, our approach incorporates a cooperative team of primary care physicians, diabetes educators, and nutritionists. Patients can attend frequent seminars and one-on-one consultations to learn practical strategies for managing chronic conditions. We improved Mrs. K's health outcomes and gave her the confidence to take control of her diabetes by actively including her in his own treatment. This approach aligns with the principles of patient-centered care, which emphasize the importance of acknowledging patients' needs, preferences, and values. It also guarantees that all clinical decisions are made with the patient's values as their primary consideration (Sapra& Bhandari, 2023).
References:
Kharroubi, A. T., & Darwish, H. M. (2015). Diabetes mellitus: The epidemic of the century. World journal of diabetes, 6(6), 850-867.
Sapra, A., & Bhandari P. (2023). Diabetes. StatPearls .StatPearls Publishing;
Response #2
I recall a specific case with a patient who was struggling with anxiety and depression. I took the time to sit down with them and explain the importance of self-care practices, such as mindfulness exercises and journaling, in managing their symptoms.
Encouraging the patient to take an active role in their care empowered them to practice these techniques regularly. Over time, the patient reported feeling more in control of their emotions and noticed a significant decrease in anxiety episodes. They also expressed feeling more confident in coping with stressful situations.
At my health facility, patient-centered care is a core value that we strive to uphold. We emphasize collaboration between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and preferences. However, there are challenges in maintaining this approach consistently due to time constraints and resource limitations.
To support patient-centered care more effectively, we are working on implementing initiatives that enhance patient education and engagement, such as providing more resources for self-management and fostering open communication channels. According to Lyles et al. (2020), to enhance usability, tools have been created that can be added to or combined with the electronic health record to help make medical information easier to understand by providing links to simple explanations and customized educational resources. Shared decision making is a way of managing healthcare that involves patients as active partners in their care that focuses on exchanging information and values to improve the decision-making process (Abrams et al., 2020). By fostering a culture of partnership and shared decision-making, we aim to further empower patients in their mental health journey and improve overall outcomes.
References:
Abrams, E. M., Shaker, M., Oppenheimer, J., Davis, R. S., Bukstein, D. A., &Greenhawt, M. (2020). The challenges and opportunities for shared decision making highlighted by COVID-19. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 8(8), 2474-2480
Lyles, C. R., Nelson, E. C., Frampton, S., Dykes, P. C., Cemballi, A. G., & Sarkar, U. (2020). Using electronic health record portals to improve patient engagement: research priorities and best practices. Annals of internal medicine, 172(11_Supplement), S123-S129