Jacinta’s 2 cents (edition 2)
Knowledge is power. It’s a familiar saying, but how often do we take a moment to consider the depth of its truth?
One of the key roles of a healthcare provider is to educate patients and empower them to make informed decisions about their health. However, from speaking with numerous patients over the years, it’s clear that this is something that’s extremely lacking.
If you’re a healthcare practitioner; how often have you had an initial patient sitting in your treatment room telling you about their injury/pain history, and all the different healthcare providers they’ve seen, and all the different (and often conflicting) things each provider has told them?
If you’re the individual; how often have you felt confused, under or overwhelmed with information, and been given conflicting information about your presenting complaint(s)? How often have you wished there were a clear answer, or at the very least, a consistent approach to your health management?
I’m not at all suggesting that healthcare providers should simply “know more” or “know everything”; that’s almost impossible. However, I do think we can do a much better job of educating and empowering our patients, even if we aren’t entirely sure what’s going on or how to best address things. Truly patient-centred care (to me) means providing the patient with all relevant information, explaining the why/how/what, and delivering them a range of options to move forwards with their management.
Furthermore, there are many occasions where we (the various practitioners) are all on the same or similar pages, this just hasn’t been communicated effectively to the patient. I’ve had countless conversations with new patients about information they’ve received from other healthcare providers. Often the strategies or treatment plans I’m discussing with them isn’t anything new or groundbreaking. Importantly, I’m helping them put together the different pieces of the puzzle. For example what management “should” look like in acute phases and ongoing.
Ultimately, patients who are educated and informed feel empowered and heard, leading to better recovery, a more sustainable journey, and a more positive experience with the healthcare and medical profession.
If you’re a healthcare practitioner, what are some ways that you empower and educate your clients?
If you’re an individual seeking healthcare, what could your healthcare team do to better support you through your journey?
