Patient Engagement Tip of the Month

• Thought heart failure was an acute condition they’d get over and recover from
• That if they didn’t currently experience symptoms from Crohn’s disease that meant their condition wasn’t progressing or causing any damage to their colon
• Thought imaging findings of herniated discs meant that disc issues were definitely the cause of their back pain

By Geri Lynn Baumblatt & Chris Heddon

With all the efforts to communicate better with patients— do you ever wonder if they can hear you? Not metaphorically, but literally.

Hearing is a baseline essential for engaging in care and navigating the healthcare system, but how often do we take it for granted that patients can hear what we say?

Only about 15% of people who need hearing aids have them. We also tend to assume hearing is only an issue for seniors. But over 60% of people with hearing loss are under age 65. And while cost is an issue, so is diagnosis and awareness of the other problems it contributes to.

Right now, many people nod along and didn’t quite hear what you said about their medication or follow-up care. They’re embarrassed. Or they think they understood enough and want to move the conversation along, especially if they know you’re pressed for time.

Picking Up on Signs of Hearing Loss

The exam room is usually quiet, so in that setting it may be hard to pick up on hearing loss that isn’t profound. Some clues:

• Are they having issues with balance and falls? People with a mild (25-decibel) hearing loss are 3 times more likely to have a history of falling. And every10-decibel loss increased the chances of falling by 1.4 fold. So addressing hearing can be a 2-for and map help prevent falls. (Lin, et al, 2012)
• Do they have trouble hearing you when you’re facing away from them? Even if they can’t lip read, people often supplement auditory information with visual clues.
• Do they ask fewer questions? They may stop asking if they won't be able to make out the answer.
• Do they seem less social or more withdrawn? People often stop going to social gatherings and restaurants when they can’t hear well enough to follow or join conversations.

It’s no wonder hearing loss is associated with social isolation in older adults, which also contributes to health problems. Untreated hearing loss is also associated with cognitive decline and diseases of isolation, so higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychosocial disorders.

With the health risks piling up, why isn’t screening more common?

One issue is recognition. Too many seniors and families may see it as “just part of aging.” But there’s also social stigma. People are both embarrassed they may have a disability, and they’re often in denial as a result. It often takes 7 to 10 years from the time that someone first realizes that they have hearing loss to the time that they first get a hearing aid.

Helping people adapt to hearing aids

Once people get diagnosed and fitted for hearing aids, there are still challenges. Even though hearing aids are now smaller and less noticeable, people still need to adapt to them. It’s important to encourage people to wear them every day for a month. This helps people get used to a new and more “digital” hearing experience. And it gives their brain a chance to remodel around this new information input. Unfortunately, many hearing aids end up in a dresser drawer or returned because people don’t give their brain a chance to acclimate. So follow-up to find out if they’re being used.

Only when people can hear well can they be part of the conversation.

For more, also check out this brief interview about best practices when talking to someone with hearing loss.

Chris Heddon, DO is a physician-entrepreneur. He began his career as an anesthesiologist. After years of progressive hearing loss, he left medicine to found Resonance Medical, which developed a clinically validated, artificially intelligent, mobile-based hearing test that was sold to a hearing aid manufacturer in November 2018. @hearresonance

Geri Lynn Baumblatt MA, For the last 20 years, Geri has worked to help people understand health conditions and procedures, orient them to their diagnoses, make more informed decisions about their care, and partner with their care teams.  She oversaw the creation of the Emmi program library, and she regularly speaks and serves on patient engagement, patient experience, health literacy, shared decision making, health design, family caregiving, and heath communication panels for organizations like AHRQ, the Brookings Institute, Stanford Medicine X, and the Center for Plain Language. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Patient Experience, is on the board of the Society for Participatory Medicine, and published a chapter in Transformative Healthcare Practice through Patient Engagement (IGI Global). She currently consults on patient engagement, family caregiving, and health communication. Follow her on Twitter @GeriLynn

by Gregory Makoul & Geri Lynn Baumblatt



In one tweet, Erin Moore expressed how many people view standard patient engagement efforts. Too often, they’re well-intentioned ways to tell patients what they need to do from the perspective of a care pathway. But what about the patient’s perspective?
 

It can be challenging for care teams to get a good sense of what patients are going through in their lives. People have brief encounters with healthcare providers, but deal with health more than 5,000 waking hours per year. How do clinical teams know what patients are going through, what matters to them as people, what they need and want to do, and what gets in their way? And how can they help?
 

The simple answer is to ask and listen. Indeed, patient-centered care sounds simple: respect patients as people; pay attention to their perspectives. But clinicians are running harder than ever, making it difficult to accomplish this in everyday practice. In other words, even simple things are hard. Solutions have to be easy.
 
There are a variety of promising solutions, ranging from teaching and assessment geared toward improving provider communication skills to programs that help patients clarify values and preferences to digital tools that capture patient ‘stories’ about themselves, their health, and their care and deliver useful summaries to the care team. The line of continuity that runs through successful solutions is sensitivity to the fact that both patients and providers are busy and often overwhelmed.
 
Of course, providers can ask about goals, barriers, and other patient perspectives in the course of talking with patients or caregivers. But time is certainly a constraint. Moreover, we have seen that patients share information via digital tools that has not been raised in previous interactions, which could be a function of overcoming embarrassment, more organized thinking when prompted to contemplate what they want to share, or the fact that they have never been asked. So how could a digital tool help?
 
Imagine a provider who is frustrated because a patient’s blood sugar is “out of range”, despite reviewing the treatment plan at each visit over the past couple of years. Before the patient comes in the next time, she is prompted to use a digital tool to share how her health affects everyday life, her priorities and goals, and barriers to achieving them. Once this information is captured, it can be pulled into the medical record and the doctor can review a summary before walking into the exam room.
 
And the conversation shifts: “Oh, now I understand – your husband does the cooking and he cooks with a lot of sugar and sweeteners.  Let’s try a different approach.”
 
Or in another scenario: “I didn’t realize that you’re also caring for an ill parent. How is that impacting your ability to take care of yourself?”
 

The first step to real patient engagement is acknowledging that patient perspectives are integral to excellent care. Getting the information digitally can improve communication by getting thoughtful, candid responses and reliably positioning what matters to patients front and center in clinical encounters.  But digital should augment, not replace, the personal. Capturing patient perspectives and integrating them into the workflow sets the stage for improving the experience and delivery of care – for both patients and providers.





Gregory Makoul, PhD MS is internationally recognized for expertise in physician-patient communication and shared decision making as well as a radical common sense, person-centered approach to health care innovation. He is Founder and CEO of PatientWisdom, Executive-in-Residence at AVIA, and Professor of Medicine at the UConn School of Medicine. Greg devoted six years to care transformation as Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer / Chief Academic Officer at Saint Francis Care in Hartford CT, gaining real-world experience that complemented 15 years on the faculty at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In 2018, he received the George Engel Award from the Academy on Communication in Healthcare for outstanding research contributing to the theory, practice, and teaching of effective healthcare communication and related skills.  @g_makoul @PatientWisdom


Geri Lynn Baumblatt MA, For the last 20 years, Geri has worked to help people understand health conditions and procedures, orient them to their diagnoses, make more informed decisions about their care, and partner with their care teams.  She oversaw the creation of the Emmi program library, and she regularly speaks and serves on patient engagement, patient experience, health literacy, shared decision making, health design, family caregiving, and heath communication panels for organizations like AHRQ, the Brookings Institute, Stanford Medicine X, and the Center for Plain Language. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Patient Experience, is on the board of the Society for Participatory Medicine, and published a chapter in Transformative Healthcare Practice through Patient Engagement (IGI Global). She currently consults on patient engagement, family caregiving, and health communication. Follow her on Twitter @GeriLynn
 


 

David Andrews

David’s Story

22 years ago I experienced a surprising weakness in my legs. At first, I thought it was a back problem, but it turned out to be neurological. The neurologist said he would have to do some research to figure out exactly what it was. But beyond my immediate symptoms and my parent’s medical history, he didn’t really ask me many questions.

I tried to figure out my own diagnosis based on my symptoms, history, and family history. Many of the possibilities were genetic, so family history was important. Association sites for specific diseases are usually helpful, but I didn’t know what I had. So I sought out medical websites intended for physicians. While it’s written for physicians, I could understand enough to make good use of the articles.

One possibility was something called: Lytico-Bodig. It’s only found only on Guam. But I had spent a year and a half on Guam in my youth, where my father was the acting head of a new teacher’s college. However, Lytico-Bodig was confined to one village and was only acquired from the food they ate which was found to contain a neurotoxin. So even though I had been to that village many times, I had never eaten their food. I told my neurologist about Guam. But he just said he’d have to research, we’d have to rule it out, it and didn’t ask me more about it.

Based on my family history and the timing and circumstances of my first symptoms, I thought I probably had something called: CIDP (a rare autoimmune peripheral neuropathy). There were 3 categories of treatments. And based on effectiveness research and side effects data, I had some thoughts on which treatment I’d prefer.

At our next meeting I told the neurologist my thoughts on CIDP.  He said, “No, no, there are hundreds of things that can cause your symptoms and we have to eliminate all of them.”  For the next several months that’s exactly what he did -- including testing for many conditions a second time.

I was referred to another neurologist with more expertise in my type of problem for a second opinion. He explained that some of the diagnostic tests can vary considerably depending on who does them. So he also repeated many of the tests, which took 2 more months. He added one (a biopsy of a nerve in the foot). And that biopsy confirmed my suspicion: that it was CIDP. So I finally began the treatment.

Unfortunately, the treatment only slows the progression of CIDP, it doesn’t reverse or treat existing symptoms. So the slow time to treat was time I couldn’t make up.

Of course, I could have been wrong -- patients often are.  But the physicians made little effort to learn what I knew about me.

How can we make patients and family members more effective contributors to the diagnostic team?

In David’s case -- there were clues that could have saved time and expense in reaching a diagnosis:

•       Family history beyond just his parents

•       Potentially relevant behaviors or trips abroad

•       The pattern of onset of symptoms

•       Major stressors in the weeks and months before onset

David tried to volunteer some of this information. And he was both motivated and able to make his way through some of the medical literature. But even as an engaged patient, he felt dismissed.  As though he should wait on the sidelines while tests were run.

Of course, there’s a continuum of patients: some want to show up and have the doctor figure out the problem and fix it. Others feel sure they know the problem and get frustrated when the doctor doesn’t seem interested in what they know. Regardless of where people are on the continuum, everyone needs to know their knowledge and participation is valuable and could contain important clues:

     What do you think might have caused this problem?

     What do you think you have?

     Did anything change in your diet, environment, or life before this started?

     Other than physical symptoms, has anything else changed?

How do you find out what your patients know about themselves that they don’t think to tell you?

Patients have critical information that can contribute to a more efficient and accurate diagnosis. The health care team’s can draw the patient and family into an active role and make sure they know and feel like part of the diagnostic team. Diagnosis can improve, be more timely, and everyone will feel a greater satisfaction that comes with a team working together.

Share your diagnostic success stories as you’ve partnered with patients to sleuth out what they have.

Geri Lynn Baumblatt MA, For the last 20 years, Geri has worked to help people understand health conditions and procedures, orient them to their diagnoses, make more informed decisions about their care, and partner with their care teams.  She oversaw the creation of the Emmi program library, and she regularly speaks and serves on patient engagement, patient experience, health literacy, shared decision making, health design, family caregiving, and heath communication panels for organizations like AHRQ, the Brookings Institute, Stanford Medicine X, and the Center for Plain Language. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Patient Experience, is on the board of the Society for Participatory Medicine, and published a chapter in Transformative Healthcare Practice through Patient Engagement (IGI Global). She currently consults on patient engagement, family caregiving, and health communication. Follow her on Twitter @GeriLynn
 

We are social beings. And social connectedness makes us feel safe so that we can relax, sleep, grow, and maintain our health. When people are isolated from others, research shows this leads to a variety of health issues including depression, being ill more often, and having longer-lasting illnesses. 

But it’s a personal and sensitive topic, so people are often don’t volunteer that they’re isolated. People can become isolated at any age for a number of reasons and life changes -- for family caregivers of any age: their social network contracts and as they focus on their family member. And young adults who are heavy users of social media often feel socially isolated. Now that we know social isolation is an underlying contributor and cause of un-health — how might we address it?
 
It started with one exercise class...
“Karen” age 55, takes care of her husband “John,” who has Parkinson’s. For both of them, it became hard to go out, to see friends, and even good friends came by less. Both Karen and John became more isolated at home. John’s doctor recommended a seated exercise class. They went, and not only did it help his muscle tone and function, but he met others coping with Parkinson’s, and she met other care partners. Soon they were finding other classes and going to 3, even 4 classes a week. Would they have gone to a support group? Maybe, but certainly not as frequently. And it was more natural social connection, and less stigma of needing support.
 
How can clinicians and care providers address social isolation?
While it feels like there’s not enough time in the day to really get to know patients, just asking 2 or 3 questions at intake can create connection, insights and help identify socially isolation.
 
Tell people your office wants to continue to know their patients better, and try asking:
    1.     What are your favorite activities/hobbies and how often do you get to do them?
    2.     Who do you most look forward to spending time with?
    3.     Do you volunteer anywhere or are you interested in volunteering?

You could also ask a new question each time patients come in — or have them fill out a 3 question survey in reception. This can help you suss out who is in the patient’s social circle (and potentially circle of care) as well as what they care about to proactively make it part of their care plan.
 
Personalizing social interactions
Does your patient garden, cook, read, play cards or love old movies? Any of these can be leveraged for new social connections. Social workers, websites, the library, or religious organizations often have lectures, book clubs, cooking classes, or volunteer opportunities. No one can be versed in all the local goings-on, but knowing a few organizations that provide free social gatherings can help you know where to point patients, without geography or cost becoming a barrier.
 
Also, keep in mind that people usually need some help or a good excuse to show up the first time. After all, you need to feel safe to socially engage. So just like you’d help someone set a health goal, action plan this with them. Could a friend or neighbor go with them? Might another patient with similar interests meet them or start a book club with them? Do they need help figuring out how to get there?
 
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to get people out meeting others in the name of doing good. It’s not intimidating to show up; and people feel needed and valuable. And, as a bonus: it’s one of the top things that makes everyone happy. A national survey by the UnitedHealth Group found
 
    •       76% of people who volunteer feel healthier
    •       94% say it improves their mood
    •       25% say it helps them manage a chronic condition, stay active, and takes their mind off of their own problems
 
Group appointments and classes
These are another great way to bring people together in the name of health and have them meet, interact, and support each other. What about hosting a stress reduction or better sleep class? New friendships grow out of groups - and people feel they’re not the only ones dealing with a chronic condition or challenge.

How will you help address social isolation with your patients? Share what you try or are thinking of trying. 


Geri Lynn Baumblatt, MA: For the last 20 years, Geri has worked to help people understand health conditions and procedures, orient them to their diagnoses, make more informed decisions about their care, and partner with their care teams.  She oversaw the creation of the Emmi program library, and she regularly speaks and serves on patient engagement, patient experience, health literacy, shared decision making, health design, family caregiving, and heath communication panels for organizations like AHRQ, the Brookings Institute, Stanford Medicine X, and the Center for Plain Language. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Patient Experience, is on the board of the Society for Participatory Medicine, and published a chapter in Transformative Healthcare Practice through Patient Engagement (IGI Global). She currently consults on patient engagement, family caregiving, and health communication. Follow her on Twitter @GeriLynn

 
Diana Deibel is a Senior Voice UX Designer who has worked for years in the healthcare space, crafting connections between patients and clinicians and helping motivate patients on tough topics. You can find her on Twitter, ready to chat @dianadoesthis. 

• Are people aware of the risk?
• Do they understand the guidelines regarding who should get screened?
• And do they have any sense of urgency to take action now?

• Pain or discomfort?
• Time lost at work?
• And a colonoscopy is an embarrassing ordeal, right?

1. Help create the norms
   Anyone working in a hospital or clinic can be both a professional and a peer. Want to normalize advanced directives or flu shots? Have anyone on staff who’s gotten the vaccine or done their directives wear a button or badge that says they got or did theirs.
   
    
2. Consider group appointments
   Conversations from peers can help normalize, reassure, and encourage others in the group to take action.

3. Consider how to use social networks as part of your patient engagement strategy.
   Do you have a Facebook page, Twitter chats, or other social media presence? The combo of AI and social networks can lead to important insights on what people are saying and what messages resonate with various groups. 

Shai Levi is a Co-founder and VP of product at Medorion in Tel-Aviv. Shai is helping to develop an AI-driven platform that enables population-health teams to effectively activate large populations without being experts in behavioral science or expert marketers. Previously he worked at Allscripts leading their population health analytics R&D. @ShaiLevi1980

Geri Lynn Baumblatt For the last 20 years, Geri has worked to help people understand health conditions and procedures, orient them to their diagnoses, make more informed decisions about their care, and partner with their care teams.  She oversaw the creation of the Emmi program library, and she regularly speaks and serves on patient engagement, patient experience, health literacy, shared decision making, health design, family caregiving, and heath communication panels for organizations like AHRQ, the Brookings Institute, Stanford Medicine X, and the Center for Plain Language. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Patient Experience, is on the board of the Society for Participatory Medicine, and published a chapter in Transformative Healthcare Practice through Patient Engagement (IGI Global). She currently consults on patient engagement, family caregiving, and health communication. Follow her on Twitter @GeriLynn

1. Nunes, et al. A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease: Despite fears, patients want to know early. Clin Nephrol. 2016 Aug; 86(2): 78–86. Published online 2016 Jun 27. doi:  10.5414/CN108831

• Listening
• Showing compassion
• Complete/consistent/understandable communication
• Showing respect

• Provide greeting and introduction
• Confirm understanding
• Identify and discuss patient and family preferences

• The word “promise” is powerful as it means something quite different when we say we make a promise to do something.
• The promise will help leaders standardize expectations and will be helpful in evaluating performance.
• The behaviors provide a clear understanding about how all staff can support the promise statements.
• Patients who participated in the process said it makes them feel more confident that we are willing to “make a promise” to them.