Patient Education
One of the most important, but under-valued tools, healthcare providers have in their toolbox is patient/client education.
Clinicians tend to underestimate the average person’s understanding of general health knowledge. Only 22% of US citizens questioned in this 2003 study had a basic level of health literacy.
That being said, it is imperative that providers begin on the patient’s first visit developing an instructional relationship designed to recognize and meet their needs.
“Healthcare professionals are obligated to make sure that patients understand information to maximize the benefits of healthcare.”
The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL)
Clinicians must empower their clients to be active participants in their care. Regarding physical therapy specifically, instructing them that PT is an active not passive treatment process, i.e. massage therapy, at the start of care is of utmost importance to manage their expectations.
Everyone Learns Differently
As providers you must ascertain how each patient responds to teaching and adjust accordingly if you want good outcomes.
Understanding that there are 3 primary learning styles may be helpful.
- Visual
- Auditory
- Kinesthetic
Meeting your clients where they are, so to speak, is necessary if your treatment plan is going to work. Using PT as an example, clinicians should apply all 3 learning styles during treatment sessions until it is clear to which type the patient responds best.
Virtual Help
Through the magic of the internet there are websites available for instructional and educational purposes geared specifically toward healthcare. These are tools providers can utilize to supplement education performed during a treatment session.
For example, once again, in the PT world an often used site is MedBridge . This website offers several products, one of which is an exercise database. It houses thousands of options for custom home exercise programs with instructions via pictures and videos, as well as a Spanish language option. Following a session of skilled instruction, a therapist can create a program for a patient to use outside the clinic to continue working toward their goals, which is essential to their success.
In addition to Physical Therapy, MD’s in multiple specialties, and mental health practitioners can practice virtually via telehealth services when needed to improve access to patients.
Teladoc is one website that supports this type of care. Simply by creating an account online and submitting medical background information, a patient can then post a question and/or request a visit with a provider. Virtual treatment sessions and even prescribed medicine if appropriate from any location, without using PTO from work, or commuting to a clinic with children in tow.
It’s clear that expanding telehealth care is critical to the future of our healthcare system and increasing patient access.
Other Barriers to Consider
It’s worth mentioning when we’re considering patient success and compliance, that there may be barriers that contribute to poor compliance and subsequently poor results.
Low self-efficacy, generally poor fitness levels, medical factors such as depression and anxiety, poor social support, and socioeconomic status are all potentially limiting factors to patient compliance according to National Institute of Health documents.
Another noteworthy factor regarding patient success is the presence of language and/or communication barriers.
Referring to the previously mentioned virtual tools, there are interpreter services available through online companies offering a 100’s of spoken languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL)for hearing impaired clients.
On-demand services, are available for a fee when you create an account. These services are professional, HIPAA compliant, and are essential if your practice is serves a population whose medical access is limited due to communication issues.
What Paths to Success Will You Chose?
Whether you are an MD or practice a specialty like Physical Therapy, medical practitioners have an obligation to address all of their patient’s needs within their capabilities to ensure they are receiving the care they require. That may mean thinking outside the box.
Medicine is challenged by many factors in the modern world, but providers must utilize as many tools as possible to ensure patients feel heard, are treated effectively, and are supported to improve their health.
The consequences of poor patient health on a broader scale result in substandard public health, which is now known especially through the recent pandemic to have catastrophic effects.
Make a plan that enables both client and provider success. Accomplishing personal and professional goals is an important consideration for the providers’ well-being. Hopefully, these steps will improve public health and patient wellness accordingly.
