Response to USA Today Article, “Communication Now Part of the Cure”
There was an interesting piece in last Wednesday’s USA Today, “Communication now part of the cure“. They published a Letter to the Editor I wrote (Continue reading “Get an ‘Ix’ with a Rx” ») on July 27 (page 10A). Here’s the text:
Get an ‘Ix’ with a Rx
Joshua Seidman, president – Center for Information Therapy; Bethesda, Md.
USA TODAY’s article “Communication now part of the cure” about the importance of discussions between doctors and patients makes several good points (Life, Wednesday).
Since research shows that 40%-80% of everything a doctor tells a patient in the office is forgotten, taking along a patient advocate is a great strategy. Unfortunately, it is not always an option or sufficient. In order to ensure effective communication, every patient should leave the doctor’s office with an information prescription (Ix). This after-visit summary reinforces what transpired in the clinic and outlines the person’s next steps for self-management and interaction with the delivery system.
Providers that have implemented after-visit summaries — both in print form and available through a secure Web portal — have found that patients love them. The summaries provide something tangible to take home, guidance that is practical, and a bridge to the next visit or to a referral to another clinician.
Non-profit and government organizations such as the Center for Information Therapy, American College of Physicians and National Library of Medicine have been advocating information prescriptions for years.
Next time you go to the doctor, make sure to get an Ix with your Rx.
October 6, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I think this goes beyond the obvious follow-up with the physician’s information. Given that cost and coverage can affect patient’s actions and compliance, it is important that communications after the fact include insurance information and close the loop with the entire care team.
Process oriented communications that leverage systemic triggers within a healthcare company are where I think we will go.
For example, if the MD prescribes a drug, but it is prior auth’d or too much money, that should trigger a call to the patient and then to the MD so that the result is not simply non-compliance. All of this needs to be timely and personalized which is difficult with traditional methods.
http://www.patientadvocate.wordpress.com
April 23, 2008 at 5:16 pm
[...] past blog posts, I’ve quoted the research that 40%-80% of everything a doctor tells a patient is completely [...]