23 Aug 5 Ways To Help Your Patients Engage

It happens to medical staff a lot.

A patient is called in or attends a consultation with a doctor or nurse, only then not engage in the care required to help them to get better. It can be frustrating and disheartening for even the most seasoned medical professional.

However, research into this area has found that there are a few easy ways that you can keep your patients engaged with their care, which is vital if they have a chronic condition such as diabetes.

So, without further ado, here are some of the best tips to help keep your patients in touch with you.

Provide Accessible Resources

It is all fine to suggest that a patient attends a group once a week for physio, but if that group is occurring at a time when they are working, they can’t do it.

It is important to provide your patients with resources that they can access easily, such as Brevium.com, that can allow them to book follow-ups or even appointments with your team without having to wait for a long time on hold with your office. Always aim to take into account their computer literacy too when suggesting online resources, as some older patients may not be able to go online and look around easily.

Get Them Involved

It is vital not to simply talk to your patients about their illness or conditions. Instead, aim to get them involved in their care plans and listen to what they have to say. Try to encourage them, and always applaud them when they hit goals.

Remember, they have to be involved in their care 24 hours a day, so you need to get them onside and onboard with anything you suggest to them so they will follow it through.

Talk To Their Family

This is important if you have a patient who requires care from a friend or family member or even if they have someone attend their medical appointments with them. Ask them what they think about their loved one’s illness or ask if there have been any notable changes. Much as the last point, you need to get as many people involved in their care away from the surgery to ensure success, so always be open to answering questions about issues or concerns that their family members may have.

Speak English!

“Cephalalgia with gastralgia presenting below the 4th vertebrae.”

Say that to a patient in a consultation, and you will likely be met with a blank stare at best. This is an example of medical jargon. Yes, it sounds flashy to say big words, but unless your patient is a doctor, they will not know what you are talking about.

Instead, when describing the aforementioned condition, use the jargon-free terms– headache with tummy ache in the lower back.

Follow-Up If You Need To

If you have concerns about a patient, be sure to follow up with them. This is essential if you started them on a new medication or have suggested a specialist to them. This will help them to see that you care about them and will likely keep them engaged with you and any care plans.

The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

Last Updated on August 23, 2022 by Marie Benz MD FAAD