Patient Involvement in Health Care Decisions Is Key
by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough
It is an interesting concept. As health care costs skyrocket and patients try to do more on their own, why not use the telephone and internet to educate people.
A new study looked at over 170,000 people to try and look at the effect of a telephone-based care-management strategy on medical costs and patient care. Health coaches contacted subjects with selected medical conditions to instruct them about shared decision making, self-care and behavioral change. The subjects were randomly assigned to a group with relatively little support or an enhanced-support group.
Although the same telephone advice was given to the two groups, a greater number of subjects in the enhanced-support group were taught lifestyle interventions as well as ways to avoid hospitalization with timely doctor visits and home care management. The result was significant health care related savings and improved overall health.
The study told us what we already expected -- allowing people to get involved in their care and decision making leads to better care and results.
