People with chronic health issues spend on average 12 hours a year with a health care provider. The other 364.5 days they manage on their own! Health care appointments can be stressful for any patient. Research shows that patients forget 50% of the information shared during an appointment. Contributing factors include stress; too much information provided too quickly, unfamiliar medical jargon and the patient’s self-confidence level. Patients who take an active role in their health care are more satisfied, pursue timely and appropriate treatment, and have a better quality of life. Communicating well with health care providers is one of the most important parts of getting good care, however it takes time and effort by both parties.
The “Getting the Most from your Healthcare Appointment” workshop was developed for the public by the South West Self-Management Program. This 1.5 hour interactive workshop focuses on what to do before, during, and after an appointment and uses action planning to optimize people’s health. A variety of learning resources are used including information sharing, videos, tools and a resource manual that supports the individual with integrating the skills into their next appointment. This workshop prepares and empowers individuals to communicate more effectively with their health care provider. Ultimately, patients are the most important members of their healthcare team.