Question

Provide one example of where shared decision making could influence the cost and quality outcomes for health care and explain why.

Please provide references.

Answer 1

Answer : Decision making is a process in which clinicians and patients work together to make decisions and select tests, treatments and care plans based on clinical evidence that balances risks and expected outcome with patient preferences and values. Better decision making provide a good outcome of patient health condition that includes reduce stress and anxiety ,a quicker recovery and increased compliance with treatment regimes. Besides, Patients can avoid physical and mental stress and infections related to prolonged hospitalization . Likewise, better decision making help to reduce the cost.If decision making is appropriate ,patients improve fast and they can discharge easily. That time only they need to pay a reasonable amount .At the same time, if decision is not proper ,patients have to stay in the hospital for long time and they may exposure to secondary infections . It may affect their budget and become a financial burden for them. For instance ,one patient admitted in the hospital with pain abdomen, tiredness ,fever and loss of appetite since 1week.Patient had taken antibiotic therapy and other medications and they had done only few tests.  Patient discharged from the hospital but the patient readmitted the hospital again with the same conditions.Then patient underwent several blood and other investigations and he was diagnosed for carcinoma of the stomach. In this case, there was no proper decision making in the first time so it affected the cost and quality care .