The Level of Education Offered to Patients in the Healthcare Industry - Term Paper Example

Reflective Practice in Health Customer Inserts His/Her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name 17th April, 2013 Introduction The healthcare industry is a global industry that takes care of medical needs of all global patients. Therefore, the industry is controlled and led by a myriad of stakeholders with different goals and skills. One of the most important stakeholders in the industry is the client and thus we have to understand his/her role within the industry. Patients are clients within the healthcare industry represent who are in need of medical care. As a result, the level of understanding of patients within the healthcare industry is paramount to success in the industry. This essay is going to look into the level of education offered to patients in the healthcare industry. Problem Analysis The healthcare industry in the world has experienced a lot of problems that are related to patient care and this needs urgent attention. Doctors, nurses and other professionals who make the healthcare fraternity usually come across the challenge of educating patients on how to take their medications or necessities of patient care. Many patients do not understand how to take care of themselves outside the premises of the hospital or healthcare facilities. There is a huge gap in the provision of education to patients in the healthcare industry. As a result, many patients suffer lack of proper education on medications and healthcare (Falvo 87). Moreover, over the years the number of patients at hospitals has increased tremendously and thus the need for materials to use in the process of teaching patients on medication. The limiting factors in the provision of patient education include cost, time, staffing shortage and lack of good healthcare programs. In terms of cost, it is costly and prohibitive for healthcare systems to come up with complete and comprehensive patient education programs. Furthermore offering patient education programs would need extra staff which is a major challenge in an industry which is faced with a staffing shortage. However, offering patient education would affiliate certain problems in the industry including high patient readmissions numbers. Literature Review Many hospitals and people contend that there is a problem in the process of teaching patients and people on healthcare. As a result, many patients have suffered from the lack of enough education on issue of healthcare and medication. There have been reports from different regions of the world on the issue of lack of enough education that has affected the provision of quality healthcare. For instance, studies have shown that patients living with medical conditions such as diabetes and other autoimmune diseases suffer a lot in areas such as rural Australia due to lack of adequate information on the diseases (Curran 103). Lack of information of several types of diseases or conditions has further propagated the problem of lack of enough medical material. The gap in provision of patient education is a real problem that has threatened the achievement of quality patient care globally. Research has shown that the problem is global and it costs several health systems in the world a lot of money to bridge the gap. Patient education has not been taken seriously as a major issue in the healthcare system globally (Rankin 135). However, recent studies have shown that the gap is creating a major problem in the provision of quality healthcare. The major problem that afflicts the provision of patient education is not only the lack of materials but also the lack good programs that assist in discharging patient education. A recent study in the United States of America shows that the government national insurer (Medicare) spent over $ 15 billion in the hospital re-admissions. This trend is also replicated in other nations where the healthcare systems spend a lot of resources in dealing with the problem of lack of adequate patient education (Klug 112). From the study, it was noticed that almost 75% of the re-admissions could be avoided if adequate patient education could be provided. Patient who are discharged from hospitals or health-centres lack adequate information on how to take drugs or how to make up follow appointments. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the process of conducting the study on re-admissions of patients contended that there would be 30% less admissions if there patient education was undertaken. According to one of the experts, Dr. Brian Jack argues that patient education is usually a low priority in the provision of quality healthcare (Redman 80). Thus, doctors and physicians only concentrate on offering consultation and medicines to the detriment of following up on the condition of the patient. Researchers argue that the activities that are undertaken in the hospital take a lot of time and staff and thus, doctors and nurses rarely concentrate on offering education to patients. As a result, there was need for a practical and skilful way of dealing with this problem through use of critical thinking (Cannon 88). In the demonstration of the problem, the AHRQ conducted a study that focussed on the development of solution based on the existing problem. The solution focussed on application of a program known as Re-Engineered Hospital Discharge Program (Project RED) which focussed on the having specialised trained nurses to assist in conducting patient follow-ups and understand medications routines or diagnoses (Jenicek 114). Within the program, two groups of patients participated in the program with each group having different set of conditions. In the first group, patients were afforded with follow-up visits and some were provided with necessary educational support on their conditions. In the second group, patients were not given any follow-ups or recommendations (Bastable 96). As a result, it was noting that patients who were provided with assistance had less than 35% of re-admittance levels compared to other patients. This evidence shows that the issue of patient education is important in ensuring that quality healthcare is provided to patients across the globe. Project RED is a case study that shows the conflict between provision of healthcare and problem posed by lack of patient education within the healthcare system (Falvo 77). The lack of adequate patient education is a serious issue that can pose serious challenges to the provisions of quality healthcare. Since lack of patient education creates a problem of incomplete healthcare provision which could lead to influx of patient re-admissions within hospitals. Therefore, doctors and health practitioners need to make use of critical thinking to solve this problem within a short period. Other studies on the problem of patient education have been highlighted in rural Australia among the aborigine population. Researchers have argued that aboriginal people suffer a lot due to lack of enough education to take care of home based patients and this results in deaths and severe worsening of patients’ conditions. Another case worth noting is that of a medical centre located in El Paso Texas where a system has been deployed where patients are treated and handled through an automated system (Drysdale 81). These systems are efficient in translating patient information into languages such as Spanish in the process of offering patient education material. Any form of patient education has been known to reduce the effects on healthcare systems around the world. For instance, patients who were admitted in Columbia Dan Jose Medical centre during the year 1998 were provided simple and cheap education program. This program assisted greatly halving medical re-admissions of patients (Howlett 96). Several regions in the world have felt the impact of patient education and it has been widely proved by scientists that patient education is significant in the healthcare industry. Recommendations As a result of the problem that is experienced within hospitals and other health centres across the world. It is imperative for a solution to be developed that will deal with the problem of lack of proper patient education. Based on the literature review, the best solutions to be undertaken would focus on the patient as outlined in these recommendations. a) One the best recommendation was to identify the key learner in the event of a patient being admitted into a hospital. The key learner in most cases could be the patient or the person who accompanies the patient to the hospital for visits. The key learner is responsible for all remedies undertaken on the wellbeing of the patient outside the hospital (Lorig 64). This method was deployed by the Leigh Valley health Network in California successfully in ensuring that patients’ welfare is taken care of in a proper manner. b) In the process of discharging patient education it is important to make sure that the patient understands the contents of the education. In this process, the key learner of the patient in taken though various lessons to evaluate if he/she has understood the contents of the lesson plan. Evaluation of the learning is important in ensuring that the patients or their care givers understand which medicines or diet should be undertaken after discharge from the hospital (Hernandez 179). Making use of evaluation techniques has shown that this technique has been effective in reducing re-admissions of patients to hospitals. In the process of undertaking this technique it is important to note that smooth communication is imperative in undertaking patient education. Consequently, we have noted that patient education should also be extended to pharmacy and rehab services. c) It is also imperative for the healthcare education plan to include a culture based system of education. This system would inculcate the process of not only administering medicine but also teaching of the importance of that medicine in the process of administering it. For instance, the Project RED program in the United States came up with a program whereby medical practitioners take time in teaching patients on medicines while at the same time administering these medicines (Brehio 93). This initiative is effective in teaching the patient since it is action based and evidence has shown that it is also effective in reducing patient re-admissions. d) Due to the fast paced nature of various activities in different regions globally, it is important for people to come up with systems that ensure patient education is disseminated easily. For instance, hospitals and care givers should come up with software systems that make it easy for patient to get education (Jack 181). These systems would be deployed in the process of teaching patients through use of apps, flash files and other material. For instance, the project RED utilized a system known as Louise; it reminds patients of their appointments and medications. e) Above all, patient education relies mainly on materials produced in different languages and which utilize different methods in the process of providing education. Materials produced for the purpose of teaching patients should be easy to read and understand while at the same time it should involve input from all stakeholders in the medical field. In the past materials have been produced which are complex and meant for doctors and thus it has disadvantaged a lot of patients (Jackson 109). For instance, in the RED project, materials used had marking to show which drugs to take and when to take these drugs. In some cases, it is wise to make use of web or video materials, simple language, active voice or large fonts. These symbols enhance teaching and learning in the process of dissemination of patient education. Conclusion The global healthcare industry has faced myriad of problems that afflict it stakeholders and these challenges could cause detriment to the industry. One such challenge is the lack of adequate patient education to cope with the problem of increased readmissions of patients n hospitals. Research has shown that lack of patient education precipitates a crisis in the healthcare industry. In the US, around $ 17 billion is spent on patient readmissions as a result of lack of proper and adequate patient education. This gap in patient education can be breached through proper planning and making use of critical thinking in ensuring patient care is provided adequately. Patient education programs should be launched in hospitals across the globe to ensure that the healthcare industry improves tremendously. These programs should be simple and easy to learn for patients or key learners to understand the concepts. The best approaches towards provision of patient education are through administering and teaching patients on the importance of these drugs. As a result, patients have a chance of learning better techniques and at the same time improving their general healthcare. References Bastable, S., Essentials of Patient Education, Longhorn Publishers, London, 2008. Brehio, R., “Nurses Identify Barriers to Teaching Patients about Their Medications,” Institute of Safe Medication Practices, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 91-95. Cannon, S. & Boswell, C., Evidence-Based Teaching in Nursing, Boston: MA, SAGE. Curran, S. & Wattis, J., Practical management of Patient education in Hospitals, Manchester City: Radcliffe Publishing, 2009. Drysdale, D, ‘Developing an Education Plan within the Healthcare System’, Journal of American Medical Foundation, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 81. Falvo, D., Effective Patient Education: A Guide to Increased Adherence, Pelshiver, Boston: MA, 2010. Hernandez, A., Greiner, M. & Fonarow, G., “Relationship between early physician follow-up and 30-day readmission among Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure,” Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 31, no.1, pp. 178-182. Howlett, B. & Gabiola, T., Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals, Raven Press, Atlantic City: NJ, 2011. Jack, B., Chetty, V. & Anthony, D., “A Reengineered Hospital Discharge Program to Decrease Rehospitalization,” Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 178-187. Jackson, M., Ignatavicius, D. & Case, B., Conversations in Critical Thinking And Clinical Judgement, Jones & Bartlett Learning, New York: NY, 2008. Jenicek, M. & Hitchcock D., Evidence-based practice: logic and critical thinking in medicine, McGraw Hill, Chicago: IL, 2010. Klug, R., The practice of patient education: A case study approach, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. Lorig, K., Patient Education: A Practical Approach, Routledge, New York, 2010. Rankin, S. & Stallings, K., Patient education: Principles & practice, Routledge, Lowell: MA, 2007. Redman, B., Advances in Patient Education, John Wiley and Sons, Atlanta: GA, 2009. Read More