By Jay Juffre

As we continue to look at what the best of the best are doing to drive patient care, we need to see what organizations are doing to better educate patients and their families. There is an old adage, ‘always listen to your doctor’. This is typically very sound advice. But what does the doctor do when, for the two days leading up to the appointment, the patient has been entering their symptoms into WebMD? The answer of leading Healthcare providers is to educate. Leaders in the industry are focusing on patient education and health literacy. This is more than bedside chats. They are putting their money where their mouths are by investing in programs to empower patients with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health, manage chronic conditions effectively, and navigate the healthcare system confidently. An educated patient has less stress, feels more confident in their diagnosis or treatment, and is in a word happier, with their health care provider. For example, I have followed my primary care provider to different health systems because she goes the extra mile to educate me on anything going on when it comes to my health. There are a few best practices we can glean from the best. First of all, start early. Begin by educating patients and their families at every encounter. Secondly, use plain language. Avoid complicated medical terms. Also, provide visual aids. Use interactive tools and as many visuals as possible. In addition, involve patients. For example, ask patients to explain their condition to a loved one and give them feedback on how well they did. This confirms they understood what was explained. Finally, make information accessible. Ultimately, the leaders in the industry are taking the time and making the effort to educate people and involve them in their treatment options. If you want to be a top provider, you should do the same.

Jay Juffre is Executive Vice President, Total Customer Experience, ImageFIRST. For more information on ImageFIRST, call 1-800-932-7472 or visit www.imagefirst.com.