Interaction between healthcare providers and patients is a significant factor affecting patient experience and health outcomes in a fast-evolving healthcare world. Considering the above case as a patient has a tremendous impact on the recognition of the importance of patients in the continuum of care of health care services, feedback loops, and Health Information Technology (HIT) in the quality of health care delivery. Therefore, these elements together create a model of patient care based on collaborative multidisciplinary teamwork.
While undergoing a physical examination, my doctor employed an electronic medical records system to update my medical history. The digital interface was the first time I encountered HIT as a healthcare subject. Because of the EHR system, the process flowed, and healthcare providers could easily access my medical history, which is a detailed history of previous disorders, drugs, and allergies. This productivity saved me time and made me sure that the health care provider had a complete knowledge of my health history, making the consultation more intelligent.
The healthcare provider gave me a detailed description of the role played by each test in the entire exercise. Therefore, I was actively involved in the decision—making process. This collaboration was achieved as I felt I was part of the process. The provider’s method of explaining the benefits and disadvantages of various healthcare systems compelled me to be knowledgeable about healthcare. Such a level of patient engagement strongly depends upon the trust and transparency in the relationship between the patient and the provider.
However, the low use of patient health IT navigators or Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) was visible. Incorporation of those technologies could move the consultation to another new level. For instance, a CDSS could give me evidence-based, real-time tailored recommendations based on my health conditions (Klarenbeek et al.,2020). The quality of care and health outcomes could have been improved. Also, a patient health IT navigator could have assisted me using the patient portal to get my health records, schedule appointments, and communicate with my healthcare provider without face-to-face visits (Yu et al 2020). This will also keep me active in health management.
While talking about the feedback, I recommend that healthcare providers implement more patient-centric HIT tools, namely CDSS and patient portals, in their practice. The stated tools allow a structured decision-making process via tailored evidence-based recommendations and patient engagement through direct access to health information. Also, training healthcare providers on the correct communication of health technology benefits and use to patients is another way of improving the patient experience.
In summary, the role of a healthcare provider in my care route led me to identify three key elements of patient care: patient engagement, excellent communication, and Info-communication Technology efficiency in healthcare provision. The employment of EHRs was beneficial, but we can benefit from other dimensions of HIT, CDSS, and patient health IT navigators to improve the quality of care and health outcomes. Applying these technologies in practice and taking a more patient-perspective reflecting orientation will eventually lead to a more effective, knowledgeable, and fulfilling healthcare delivery for patients.
References
Klarenbeek, S. E., Weekenstroo, H. H., Sedelaar, J. M., Fütterer, J. J., Prokop, M., & Tummers, M. (2020). The effect of higher level computerized clinical decision support systems on oncology care: a systematic review. Cancers, 12(4), 1032. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/4/1032
Yu, J., Meng, X., Yan, B., Xu, B., Fan, Q., & Xie, Y. (2020). Global Navigation Satellite System‐based positioning technology for structural health monitoring: a review. Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 27(1), e2467. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/stc.2467
Subbiah, V. (2023). The next generation of evidence-based medicine. Nature Medicine, 29(1), 49-58. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02160-z
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