Engaging Consumers of Primary Care

The MPCC "Primary Care is in Crisis" white paper series, released in 2009, defines the crisis and identifies contributing factors.  Resolution of the crisis requires efforts in three arenas: 1) transformation of the way primary care is delivered and compensated, 2) activation of healthcare consumers and 3) rebuilding the primary care workforce.  Part 3  of the series addresses the importance of patient activation in achieving good health outcomes and concludes, "Consumers must be involved in all efforts to create, improve, sustain and spread patient-centered primary care in Michigan." 

White Paper Series: Primary Care is in Crisis

Part 3: Activate Consumers of Primary Care

Why is Consumer Activation Important?

There is increasing recognition that patients who are informed, active participants in their own care have better outcomes. Patients with high activation (i.e., proactive in managing their health) will positively impact the primary care system by preventing or controlling their chronic conditions. This, in turn, improves health outcomes, lowers the demand for certain health care services, and contains costs.

What Does Activation Have to do with Patient-Centered Care?

The Patient Centered Medical Home creates durable and meaningful relationships among families, their doctor’s care teams, and health plans. The care is accessible, continuous, and compassionate with care deliverers and patients working together. In this model, patients can become empowered and ultimately make healthier lifestyle decisions. 

Healthcare has been evolving away from a "disease-centered model" and toward a "patient-centered model." In the older, disease-centered model, physicians make almost all treatment decisions based largely on clinical experience and data from various medical tests. In a patient-centered model, patients become active participants in their own care and receive services designed to focus on their individual needs and preferences, in addition to advice and counsel from health professionals. (Mark Stanton “Expanding Patient-Centered Care To Empower Patients and Assist Providers. AHRQ Research in Action, Issue 5“)

Patient Steps to Improve Participation

Patients can improve the quality of their care by preparing for appointments.
* Assemble information that needs to be shared with provider
        * Prepare and bring questions for provider, bring lists of medications
        * Participate in the goal-setting process.
        * Follow through on treatment plans and/or health care goals.

Health Team Steps to Engage Patients

* Partner with Patients to create a health plan
* Use Motivational Interviewing to assist patients to identify health goals
* Provide Self Management Support
* Link Patients with useful resources in the community
Click here for the MPCC Self Management Support Toolkit