WHY SHARED DECISION MAKING WORKS IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

WHY SHARED DECISION MAKING WORKS IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Shared Decision Making, as it relates to the healthcare industry, is a relatively new process that strives to bring patients and physicians to a higher level of understanding through third-party advocates. It relies on a variety of factors such as patient knowledge, treatment options and impartial advocacy. Care advocates who are able to guide participants in need of ongoing medical attention through the complexities of the ever-changing world of today’s healthcare system are generally experienced healthcare professionals. These Care Advocates offer their impartial, knowledgeable advice within the confines of the shared decision making process to facilitate meaningful dialogue and understanding between physicians and patients. The following reasons show why Shared Decision Making works when a patient is faced with significant healthcare choices.

Oftentimes patients are faced with medical situations that require them to make decisions regarding treatment that could affect their quality of life from that point on; Questions like: should an individual choose surgery instead of a more conservative approach through medication?

When a patient needs to make difficult healthcare decisions it is important to have an impartial, knowledgeable Care Advocate who can study the patient’s condition, value system and personal preferences and weigh them against the various options of treatment – sometimes options not even presented by the attending physician. Through shared decision making the patient will be advised so they will be able to understand if one course of treatment is better than another as it relates to their own particular situation.

Risk communication is an important aspect of any informed decision. Many times there are no clear-cut answers when addressing a specific treatment of a medical diagnosis. The hope is that physicians are aware of all options and present them to the patient. Ethical principles in the practice of medicine and related healthcare industries require patient consent before a physician or healthcare professional can begin treatment. Timing often plays a significant role in the decision-making process. However, many decisions regarding clinical treatment are judgment calls. A physician may not have the right information regarding the patient’s values, interests or care preferences to present alternative treatment options. It follows then, that if the physician does not adequately present the pros and cons of a prescribed course of treatment, because the above mentioned factors were not taken into consideration, a patient may make a wrong decision – a decision that could have been avoided through the process of Shared Decision Making.

In recent years the concept of Shared Decision Making has surfaced as an ideal model for enhanced healthcare treatment. When information is shared through an impartial Care Advocate the process of deciding on a specific course of action will result in treatment that takes into consideration evidence about treatment options, the pros and cons of each option and an informed decision that values a patient’s individual preferences. The process involves a sharing of information, consensus building and ultimately agreement on a course of treatment.