As patients act more like consumers, they assume more control over their medical decisions. Having a patient population that is more engaged in care planning works in the provider’s favor when it leads to better care outcomes. Being proactive to educate your patients on their health matters can help encourage patient engagement and demonstrate your support for their care journey. In this article, you will learn more about patient education and receive tips on how to provide educational resources.
Patient Education Establishes a Partnership Between Patient and Provider
Patients who understand their health are more likely to be engaged in their care plans. For example, if a patient understands not only when, but why they need to take medications, they are more likely to be compliant. Unfortunately, the internet contains a great deal of outdated and false information. When you offer your own education for patients, you can control, vet, and update the information.
Patient engagement is the future of healthcare. That is one of the primary reasons why patient education is important. Patient information and patient engagement work in concert to improve patient outcomes. When patients are armed with a solid understanding of their health, they can engage in their treatment plans, ask questions, and make informed decisions. One of the best and most effective ways to provide this kind of support is with a robust patient education library on your medical practice website.
Most of us have experienced a sleepless night at some point in our lives spent worrying about the health of a child or loved one. Access to a trusted resource 24/7 can help your patients and their families do research at any time. Or perhaps they are struggling to remember some details of a diagnosis or want to do additional research. Patient education resources can provide valuable information to your patients long after your clinic doors close.
Help Providers Better Facilitate Care Plans
A patient education library can also save valuable time for your staff. When patients can find information online, they are less likely to contact your office. They also are more likely to come to their appointments with fewer, more concise questions if they can educate themselves in advance. Just a few examples of topics include:
You can also use your patient education library as a take-away for people who may not have access to the internet. Simply print off applicable pages and send them home with patients along with their care plan.
Summary: The Value of Patient Education
A patient education library can provide many benefits for your medical practice and patients. It can help establish you as a trusted and valued resource and become a tool to both attract and retain patients. It also can help patients become more engaged in their own healthcare, which has been shown to improve health outcomes.
iHealthSpot Can Help
While nothing can replace personal interaction, a patient education library can play a significant role in patient care – and establish you as a subject matter expert. For over 20 years, healthcare organizations have partnered with our consultants to create solutions, including building comprehensive patient libraries. If you have questions about building a patient education library, let us know!
