Question

What governmental, institutional, or private sector policies could enhance patient engagement and activation?

Answer 1

Policies to enhance Patient engagement and Activation:

Policy is a principle of behaviour or conduct thought to be desirable or necessary especially as formally expressed by a Government or other Authoritative body. There are a number of policies, laid down by Government, Healthcare institutions or private sector  for enhancing the patient engagement and patient activation.  For a better patient health outcome, patient engagement and patient activation is a necessary step.

Patient Engagement refers to involvement of patients in their own care so that they can make competent decisions over their  care. Patient activation is the process of activating patient to participate in the intervention involved in their care.Only with the medicine, therapeutic procedures patient outcome may not be get bettter. Patient has to be engaged and activated to participate in their care. For example: A patient who is diagnosed with Hypertension , getting the most effective medicine , but if he is not actively controlling his Blood pressure through healthy diet and regular exercise, then the Blood pressure will not get controlled within normal limits. Patient has to be engaged and activated to participate in his care.

There are different policies by Government, private sector and institutions for enhancing the patient engagement and patient participation. The following are some of such policies:

* Value based payment model : The Federal Government and health sector is promoting a healthcare payment model, that ensure the good therapeutic outcome. Value based payment model is based on the health outcome of the patient. For better outcome patient must engage and participate in their own health care. Ith this policy Physicians also motivate the patient to engage and actively participate in their own care.

* Patient Activation measure: Many Health professionals of different health institutions use the ' Patient Activation measure'. It is a 100 point scale, which used to note the patient's involvement and participation in their care.

* Health IT and patient potrtal messages: To support patient outside the hospital and ensure their engagement and activation , Health technologies and ' Patient portal message ' can greatly help. Phone calls and text messages with the help health IT can remind patient about the different health services , especially preventive services.

* Shared decision making Policy by Health care institutions and professionals ensure that their clients or patients are actively engaging in the planned interventions and implementation of nursing actions and other care. Private sectors also follow this policy of 'Shared decision making ' based on their values and beliefs.

* mobile technologies , by institutions and private sector:

- Different mobile apps by Health care institutions for helping the patient for self management of medication and other care.

- Medication adherence apps, that assist patients by reminding the time and dosage of drugs.

- supporting conversations with heathcare providers to strengthen the care.

- mobiles and social media can help to connect with support group and peers , that gives patient a feeling of connectedness.