As the medical community becomes aware of the universal occurrences of chronic illness, more physicians realize that the patients’ role in their health is a huge factor in their outcomes.
Self-care and self-management are contributing to positive results for many patients. Helping chronic patients effectively control their diseases between visits is crucial to improving their health outcomes.
Keep reading for five tips to help patients manage their chronic conditions between visits.
Providing patient education.
Educating patients is an essential aspect of any medical practice, but it is crucial in setting them up for success. When educating your patients, take advantage of technology because it’s made materials more accessible and easier for patients to understand. Determine their learning style and find out what works best for them.
Be sure to include family members and caregivers. Involving them will significantly increase positive outcomes. Educating patients and their families can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding healthcare elements. However, passing along essential knowledge and instruction will dramatically improve results.
Help them focus on healthy habits.
Unhealthy behaviors are key risk factors for chronic conditions. Patients need constant and positive encouragement to change these behaviors and make vital lifestyle improvements. Reminding them of this at their appointments is extremely important, but they will need reminders between visits as well.
Ensure that your practice has a good website with an informative blog. Make sure you also have a strong social media presence and encourage your patients to follow along. Regularly post tips and useful resources for your patients.
[Want to learn more about enhancing the patient experience? Click here!]
Encourage communication.
A practice’s ability to interact with patients inside and outside of the office will play a massive role in building a strong patient-provider relationship. Developing strong communication between visits will nurture this relationship and help keep patients engaged.
It will also be a persistent nudge for them to take control of their health and their chronic conditions between visits.
Foster healthy relationships.
The doctor-patient relationship plays a critical role in a patient’s medical treatment. It can influence everything from the frequency of visits to self-care habits in-between visits.
Ultimately, how well patients get along with their doctors could impact overall wellness. Some traits that encourage these healthy relationships include:
- Trust.
- Honesty.
- A good rapport.
- Respect.
Emphasize the importance of consistent visits.
Regular and planned visits are imperative to keeping your chronic patients on track. Ensure they are getting their visits scheduled beforehand and make sure they are showing up.
It’s also important to use effective reminders for your patients and tailor them to fit their needs. In our modern era, you should not have blanket style reminders. Ask your patients which method they prefer and then contact them that way.
We hope these tips help you find new ways to connect with and engage your patients outside of the office! If you have any other success stories, please let us know via our Facebook page.
Tags: building the practice patient relationship, chronic conditions, helping patients between visits, medical office management, medical offices, national organization of rheumatology managers, NORM, office management, office managers, tips for office managers Posted by
