HSCI710 Discussion Quality Care

Introduction: Patient engagement in overall quality of care is important

As it’s depicted in Marzban et al., 2022 studies, patient engagement in healthcare treatment is essential because it develops collaborative partnerships between patients, health professionals, and key stakeholders to improve the healthcare and outcomes of various treatment programs. The phrase “the door is usually open” typically goes a long way in providing the patients with the comfort of always visiting the hospital or any other healthcare facility and is usually the premise for regular and frequent follow-ups, which practitioners identify as an effective way of motivating clients (patients) and at the same time helping them to overcome difficulties and make improvements.

The incentive to enhance patient engagement

As it’s attributed in Lorenzetti’s 2013 study tasks, to enhance patient engagement in patients’ treatment, the most suitable incentive would be scheduling frequent follow-up visits to solve illness issues, celebrate success, or even both. Patients often tend to open up to healthcare professionals after frequent interactions. The frequent interactions open the patients emotionally, and they become more interactive with the healthcare professionals, thus engaging in their healthcare treatment. When a healthcare facility has its professionals making follow-ups on their patients, their interactions become beneficial since the patients can seek guidance health-wise without visiting the healthcare facility (Lorenzetti, 2013). Most patients usually find commuting to healthcare facilities strenuous, especially regarding minor health issues such as headaches, which may develop into much more significant medical complications.

Making follow-ups with patients is critical to compliance and outcome and the key to building and retaining stronger, healthier patient relationships. When patients express dissatisfaction or unmet expectations, healthcare facilities should engage in immediate follow-ups to meet their expectations. Failure to do so would lead the patients to look the other way and search for other healthcare facilities, which destroy the facility’s reputation. No patient would like to interact with such a healthcare facility. In most cases, patients discharged to home treatment usually require many follow-ups to monitor their health development (Greene, 2016). Research has shown that healthcare professionals usually interact more with patients outside the healthcare facility than inside, indicating that they do not think of the facilities as “safe spaces” for opening up.

At the end of it all, their treatment expectations are unmet. Since follow-ups can be tough to manage in some healthcare facilities, especially those with many patients, both in and outpatients, it is recommended to have an automated communication machine to make follow-ups. Even a slight thank you after the medical service would go a long way in establishing loyalty and fostering meaningful relationships with the patients and healthcare professionals. Making follow-ups with patients prevents chances of medical declines and improves communication between patients and healthcare professionals. The follow-up activities usually engage patients in their treatment program by establishing loyalty and dependability on healthcare professionals. The incentive of frequent follow-up visits to patients encourages patients' total interactions and engagement in their treatment programs.

How do we encourage patients to be active participants in their own care?

As illustrated in Marzban et al., 2022 article, impact of Patients Engagement on Healthcare Quality, When people are actively involved in their care and treatment, they are given the resources they need to take charge of their own health and well-being. It entails facilitating their participation in care decisions to the extent they desire or are capable of and providing them with the freedom to determine how they will use the resources made available to them by the National Health Service. That means taking into account the whole person rather than just their symptoms or health issues in isolation (Marzban et al., 2022).

Planning for one’s individualized care and support through proactive conversations with one’s clinician or health and care professionals is an essential part of the holistic approach known as personalised care and support planning for people living with one or more long-term conditions. Discussing one’s health and wellness with a loved one should centre on the person and what they value most (their personal goals). Information should be exchanged, medical and non-medical support needs should be identified, options should be discussed, contingency plans should be made, goals should be set, the discussion should be documented (often in the form of a care plan), and progress should be monitored through regular review (Marzban et al., 2022).

According to together with their doctors, patients who have experienced a health shift engage in a process known as “shared decision making,” during which they decide on diagnostic procedures, therapeutic measures, and psychosocial aids (Marzban et al., 2022). The decision was made after carefully considering the individual’s informed preferences and the available evidence. To be more precise, evidence-based information about all reasonable options should be discussed during a conversation or series of conversations devoted to shared decision-making. This should include everything from the known risks and benefits of each option (including inaction) to decision-making support and a way to record and carry out the chosen course of action. The individual’s values and preferences, such as their attitude toward risk, maybe just as important as the clinical evidence when making a decision with multiple possible courses of action (Marzban et al., 2022).

Biblical application

The mindset shifts when health care is viewed through a biblical lens or measured against biblical standards of excellence. Consider a person’s medical condition and race or gender before making a decision about treating them. When Christians follow Paul’s advice to treat every task as if it were for the Lord, good things will happen (New King James Version Colossian 3:23). The Christian leader can take to heart the warning to work as if for the Lord and not for a human boss. Paul says that any work done in the spirit of Christ will bring an eternal reward. When preparing to help others and serve God, Christian health administrator develops a strong work ethic in all that they do.

For Christians, this verse is a constant reminder to give their all whenever they are helping someone. Any less-than-perfect excellence in healthcare administration is unacceptable. Christian leaders need to seek out ways to boost productivity without compromising on quality. There’s more to the Christian worldview than just finding logical solutions to issues. It alludes to the natural application of biblical ideas and principles in one’s own life. As Christian leaders, we are to model both our outward and inward behaviour after the Lord’s, following His example of servant leadership. There is no doubt that the Christian worldview is the set of core beliefs and values through which they view the world. Faith, values, and rituals are all observed in an orderly fashion, and nothing is carried out without the approval of a higher authority, as evidenced by the organization’s inner dynamics.

Let’s take a look at the Golden Rule and see if it holds up to the standards set forth in the Bible. Following the Golden Rule and displaying a God-honoring attitude are two sides of the same coin. Having a modest disposition toward God and being generous to all people. This attitude is what separates the Christian manager from the conventional view of quality in the workplace. Implementing the Golden Rule’s precept that “you should treat others as you would like to be treated” into the healthcare workforce is one way to boost the quality of care provided to patients. When it comes to gauging excellence, the Christian manager’s servant leadership serves as the weight at one end of the plumb line. The inconsistent service of those who do not observe His commands is illustrated in the biblical teaching of the plumb line.

References.

Greene, Jessica, et al. “Supporting patient behavior change: approaches used by primary care clinicians whose patients have an increase in activation levels.” The Annals of Family Medicine 14.2 (2016): 148-154.

Lorenzetti, Rosemarie Cannarella, et al. “Managing difficult encounters: understanding physician, patient, and situational factors.” American Family Physician 87.6 (2013): 419-425.

Marzban, S., Najafi, M., Agolli, A., & Ashrafi, E. (2022, September 16). Impact of patient engagement on Healthcare Quality: A scoping review. Journal of the patient experience. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9483965/

New king James version. (2019). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com