Results to Patients' Facilitates Diabetes Care Planning
Results to Patients' Facilitates Diabetes Care Planning
Our Results to Patients project gives people with diabetes the information they need to plan their care and presents it in an engaging way, giving it meaning. Patients do not need to understand the HbA1c test itself in order to know what their own result means.
The results of our pilot clearly demonstrate that, when provided with personalised information in this way, patients change their behaviours and attitudes which then heightens engagement and partnership with healthcare professionals. As such we have succeeded in assisting patients to become more equal partners in care planning.
Soon after we conducted the pilot, the WHO gave assent for HbA1c to be used as a screening test for diabetes, in addition to its surveillance role. To avoid patients inadvertently receiving screening results, we created an additional safeguard in Ordercomms and healthcare professionals in our area now specify whether the HbA1c test is for diabetes screening or for surveillance of diabetes. This way, only those known to have a diagnosis of diabetes are included.
On the strength of our pilot results this work has been commissioned for our local population of ~18,000 people with diabetes. Control processes now ensure easy patient opt out. On-going patient feedback via a weblink has been positive. Print error rates are low; there have been no major complaints.
Two key reasons for the success of our project are the methodical application of 'lean six-Sigma' quality improvement tools and the depth of our involvement of patients.
Discussion and Progress Beyond the Pilot
Our Results to Patients project gives people with diabetes the information they need to plan their care and presents it in an engaging way, giving it meaning. Patients do not need to understand the HbA1c test itself in order to know what their own result means.
The results of our pilot clearly demonstrate that, when provided with personalised information in this way, patients change their behaviours and attitudes which then heightens engagement and partnership with healthcare professionals. As such we have succeeded in assisting patients to become more equal partners in care planning.
Soon after we conducted the pilot, the WHO gave assent for HbA1c to be used as a screening test for diabetes, in addition to its surveillance role. To avoid patients inadvertently receiving screening results, we created an additional safeguard in Ordercomms and healthcare professionals in our area now specify whether the HbA1c test is for diabetes screening or for surveillance of diabetes. This way, only those known to have a diagnosis of diabetes are included.
On the strength of our pilot results this work has been commissioned for our local population of ~18,000 people with diabetes. Control processes now ensure easy patient opt out. On-going patient feedback via a weblink has been positive. Print error rates are low; there have been no major complaints.
Two key reasons for the success of our project are the methodical application of 'lean six-Sigma' quality improvement tools and the depth of our involvement of patients.
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