Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 14 Patient education

In this chapter students will be able to: Identify the benefits of patient education and the medical assistant’s role in providing education, describe factors that affect learning and teaching, implement teaching techniques, choose reliable patient education materials used in the medical office,...

Patient Education

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

14.1 Identify the benefits of patient education and

the medical assistant’s role in providing education

14.2 Describe factors that affect learning and

teaching

14.3 Implement teaching techniques

14.4 Choose reliable patient education materials

used in the medical office

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

14.5 Explain how patient education can be used

to promote good health habits

14.6 Describe the types of information that should

be included in the patient information packet

14.7 Describe the benefits and special

considerations of patient education prior to

surgery

• Health education = lifelong pursuit

• Encourage and teach healthy habits and

behaviors

• Medical assistants

– Recognize and overcome roadblocks to education

– Become comfortable with teaching

– Lead others to their highest level of health

The Educated Patient

Takes a more active role in medical care

Is often more compliant with treatment programs

Is better informed about how to maintain a healthy state

The Educated Patient (cont.)

• Benefits to the medical office

– Satisfaction

– Follows instructions

– Less likely to call with questions, so staff spends less

time on the telephone

• Medical assistant participation in patient

education

– Place of employment and scope of practice

– Awareness of patient understanding and needs

Apply Your Knowledge

What are the results of patient education?

ANSWER: Patients can take a more active role in

their health care They are more compliant with the

treatment program, stay healthier, and are more

satisfied clients of the medical practice.

Learning and Teaching

Apply Your Knowledge

Match the following:

P

Teaching Techniques (cont.)

– Physical sensations they may feel

– All five senses may be involved

Teaching Techniques (cont.)

• Participatory teaching

– Describe a technique

– Modeling

• Demonstrate the technique

• Patient then performs a

return demonstration

• Verify understanding

Cultural and Educational Barriers

• When providing new materials consider

– Cultural background

– Age

– Medical condition and emotional state

– Learning style, educational background

– Disabilities

– Religious background

– Readiness to learn

Apply Your Knowledge

Return demonstrations are part of factual teaching.

Sensory teaching tells the patient what he will feel

• Brochures, Booklets, and Fact Sheets

– Explain procedures

– Provide information about specific diseases and

medical conditions – Provide information to help patients stay healthy

Patient Education Materials

• Practical health care tips

• Updates on office policies

• Information about new diagnostic

tests and equipment

• News about office staff

Printed Materials (cont.)

Educational Newsletters

A valuable aid for referring patients to

Meals on Wheels

Day Care Centers

Day Care Centers

Medical Services

Medical Services

Many physicians arrange seminars

and classes for their patients

DVDs and videotapes – effective for educating about complex subjects and procedures

Visual Materials

Visual Materials (cont.)

Health organizations and associations also provide

health information

Libraries and patient resource rooms have a variety of educational

materials

Visual Materials (cont.)

• Online health

information

– Check credibility of

website – Develop a list for the

patient

• Education plan

– Education needs – Outline

– Resources – Teach

– Evaluate

Apply Your Knowledge

List resources that are available to provide patient

education materials

ANSWER: Community resources for patient education

include libraries and patient resource rooms, online

resources, community resources such as home health, and

health-related associations such as the AHA.

Promoting Health and Wellness Through

Education

• Consumer Education – increased awareness

of good health practices

• Ways to achieve good health

– Develop healthy habits

– Protect self from injury

– Take preventive measures

Regular Exercise Adequate Rest

Healthy Habits

Good Nutrition

Balance Work Leisure

Protection from Injury

• Safety measures

• Proper use of medications

– Do not change dosage

– Do not mix medications

– Report unusual reactions

– Tell doctor about any OTC medications

Preventive Measures

Three levels of preventive health care

Three levels of preventive health care

1

Health-promoting behaviors

1

Health-promoting behaviors

Categorize each of the following behaviors as a

first, second, or third level of prevention

Apply Your Knowledge

Tuberculin skin testDaily exercise

Adopting healthy eating habitsAnnual mammograms

Stroke rehab program

The Patient Information Packet

• Benefits for patients

– Improves relationships between the office and

patients

– Provides important information about office policies

and staff roles

• Office hours

• Scheduling appointments

• Payment policies

The Patient Information Packet (cont.)

• Benefits for office staff

– Marketing tool

– Aid to running office smoothly

– Saves time answering questions

– Use to acquaint new staff members with office

policies

• Introduction to the office

• Physician’s qualifications

• Description of the practice

• Introduction to the office staff

Contents of the Information Packet (cont.)

Materials should be written at a

sixth-grade reading Materials should be written at a

sixth-grade reading

Distribution of Patient Information Packet

• Give the packet to new patients

• Mail the packet to patients

• Refer patient to office website

Following their office visit, several patients inquire

about the credentials of the practitioner seeing them during the visit How can this information be made

available to the patients?

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: Add this information to the patient

information packet and also placed on the

office website.

Patient Education Prior to Surgery

• Vital to successful outcomes

• Medical assistant

– Support and explanations

– Verify patient understands information given

 Increases satisfaction

 Reduces anxiety and fear

 Reduces use of pain

Helping Relieve Anxiety

• Repeat and reinforce

• Stress the positive

• Involve family members

• Provide contact information

• Be reassuring

• Verify understanding

Apply Your Knowledge

What are the benefits of preoperative education for

the patient?

ANSWER: Preoperative education is important to the

success of the procedure It helps reduce anxiety and

fear, use of pain medication, postoperative complications,

and recovery time.

Answer!

In Summary

14.1 Patients benefit from patient education

because it can help them regain their health and

independence more quickly

The medical office also benefits because patients will be less likely to call the office with questions

Educated patients take a more active role in their medical care

In Summary (cont.)

14.2 Learning occurs in three domains:

knowledge,behaviors, and skills

The patient must be able to recall the information, have the right attitude and be

motivated to learn, and then implement the

skills needed to demonstrate that the

knowledge is retained

In Summary (cont.)

14.3 Teaching methods and formats are adjusted

for the best possible result depending on patient need and level of understanding

The best possible education plan comes from knowing your patient and his needs and abilities, as well as the goal of the

instruction

Always assess your instruction at its completion and revise the plan as needed

In Summary (cont.)

14.4 There are a variety of types of patient

education materials in medical offices

Using already-completed print or electronic patient instruction sheets, ensuring that

Internet sources are credible, and obtaining

assistance from other healthcare team members

are all methods of ensuring reliability of

educational materials

In Summary (cont.)

14.5 Patient education promotes good health by

teaching patients the importance of developing healthy habits such as eating

properly and exercising regularly

In Summary (cont.)

14.6 The contents of the patient’s information

packet should include an introduction to the medical office, the physician’s qualifications,

a description of the practice, an introduction

to the staff, office hours, appointment scheduling, telephone policies, payment and

insurance policies, a confidentiality

statement, and other pertinent information

In Summary (cont.)

14.7 Educating patients prior to surgery is vital to

a successful outcome and involves instructing them on proper procedures before

surgery and also having the patient sign a

surgical consent

Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.

~ Florence Nightingale

End of Chapter 14