Ptient Education

It is always discouraging when patients ignore your advice to change their dietary habits, take off 30 pounds, stop smoking or get into a regular exercise program. Patients don’t like to change something they enjoy. You have to get them to buy into your concepts and see the benefits. But how do I do this? What are the things I can tell them? These are just some of the few questions that lingers through a healthcare providers head every time they are faced with the dilemma of educating their patients. This is where Patient Education from the Training Department comes in. Patient Education is the process by which health professionals and others impart information to patients that will alter their health behaviors or improve their health status (www.AAMC.org, 2011). According to Dr. Anwar, assuming more responsibility for patient education keeps patients healthier and keeps medical conditions from worsening (Anwar, 1996). It can reduce the need for hospitalization. Patients can be taught the importance of prevention, early treatment and overall health maintenance. They will partner with you for a healthier life style. Your patients can learn ways to reduce the chance of serious health problems and complications. They will recognize lifestyle factors that may be contributing to their health problems. They will know when to seek medical attention, rather than delay medical care and risk the chance their health could deteriorate. Almost all hospitals especially teaching hospitals have a dedicated education and training department. It is usually headed by an Educator which could be a nurse educator, a physician or somebody with the right experience, skills and knowledge to be part of the department. There would be training specialists and a couple more nurse educators that could be part of the team depending on how big the institution or how many employees they need to support are.

Patient Education is

Trends Impacting the Patient Education Department...