| Description |
The healthcare system we know today is in crisis. Too many chronically ill patients are seeking care in a sick care model that often treats symptoms with a pill instead of treating the underlying root cause of disease. Our qualitative research approach seeks to better understand ways in which patient-practitioner communication can be improved to increase patient care and satisfaction. Patients completed surveys that contained both open and closed-ended questions and practitioners were interviewed as a group to better understand how communication, and ultimately healthcare, could be improved as we looked for ways to help patients take more control of their lifestyle behaviors. Our results revealed three consistent themes, which included a desire for whole person care, the importance of narratives in medicine, and delivery challenges faced by practitioners trying to educate their patients on healthier lifestyle choices. Our conclusion reveals recommendations that address these real life needs that will be delivered through Worldlink Medical, an educational teaching academy for healthcare practitioners. |
