In: Operations Management
The patients level in the policy development process, as it
relates to health policy making, is a process that involves
patients as stakeholders, counselors, and decision makers.
Patient-related practices in health policy stem from consumer
advocacy movements that prioritize consumer safety, access to
information, and public participation in public health programs.
Depending on the context, patient involvement in health policy may
include informed decisions, advocacy, program development, policy
implementation, and service evaluation. Patient involvement in
health policy can affect different levels of the health system.
Hospital admissions can be involved in personal health care in
making joint decisions. In other areas, patients act as advocates,
members of government policy committees and organizations.
Increased patient level in health policy can lead to improved
patient satisfaction, quality and safety, cost savings and public
health outcomes. Including patient involvement in health policy
research can also ensure that public health needs are properly
incorporated into policy proposals. When asked to participate by
policy makers and industry leaders, patients can influence health
policy, and both groups benefit from collaboration in setting goals
and measuring outcomes. By providing feedback in the form of
responses to the survey, patients provide good advice to community
health professionals and hospital managers on the quality and
affordability of health services. In addition, assessing patient
satisfaction from these studies has become an important indicator
that hospitals are evaluated and compared.
Patient level has spurred the development of various health
policies, from delays to hospitalizations to the implementation of
patient-centered medical teams. Patient involvement contributed to
streamlining the process of nurse transfer from nurse by
participant staff to discuss information on patient bed
transitions. Patient involvement in care coordination also led to
the use of electronic medical records that patients could access
and edit. Through communication with patients and patient advocacy
groups, policy makers can support patients in improving public
policy. Examples include facilitating public participation in
research, town hall meetings, public information sessions, online
and mobile surveys, and periods of open comment on proposed
legislation. The hospital encourages patient involvement by
enabling patients to serve as consultants and decision-makers,
including quality improvement teams, patient safety commissions and
family care advice. Similarly, nonprofits and government agencies
can establish funding mechanisms that demand and support patient
participation in decision-making and priorities.