Do Healthcare Professionals Create a Culture of Dependency?

Health Literacy

Health literacy refers to healthcare practitioners' ability to help customers and make them full participants in their health and wellness. Individuals have the "ability to collect, transmit, process, and interpret fundamental health information and subsequently make appropriate health decisions," according to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (2017). But, I believe that healthcare professionals have not fully established an environment in which they collaborate with individuals as partners. They have merely portrayed a culture of reliance in which individuals seek assistance and direction on how to live healthy lives. Individuals do not have the knowledge to analyze the benefits and risks of certain health related issues, and they rely on communication with their healthcare providers to make the decisions. Moreover, people rarely know how to calculate dosages or interpret test results, and they depend on their health care providers for such functions. Sometimes humans are not in a position to access healthcare information, and they keep consulting their providers even for basic information. As a result, it is clear that health professionals have created an atmosphere of dependency but not a partnership.

Consumer Technology

The use of the consumer health IT applications as a client technology will improve the participation of individuals and healthcare professionals in promoting health and wellness. As for the Agency for Healthcare Resources and Quality, the application will allow the users to collect, retrieve, manage, and share their health related information (2015). As such, they will be able to track their health progress and make healthy decisions relating to the lifestyles they choose. The application will, therefore, improve healthcare by reducing dependency and promoting partnership between the consumers and health professionals. In addition, it will decrease costs and increase the value of the provided healthcare (Saba & McCormick, 2015).

Response to Another Student

It is true that it is the role of health professionals to promote a culture of interdependence in their provision of services where they work as partners with their consumers (Saba & McCormick, 2015). The culture of partnerships is achieved through education, and provision of resources allows the users implementing and maintaining their wellness, and providing continuous motivation to them. Health related issues may become demoralizing to individuals especially when they do not know what the patients are battling against. That is why, education is important as it helps people understand different health issues. Motivation from healthcare professionals indicates that people are not fighting against the illness alone. Therefore, they become encouraged to utilize the resources allocated to them for implementing and maintaining their wellness (Saba & McCormick, 2015).

Communication and Health Portals

However, sometimes patients are unwilling to learn, and they openly show their lack of motivation to their healthcare professionals (Hughes, 2004). In addition, the experts suggest that the patients are only willing to depend on them to update them on their health status and help them make decisions that promote health and wellness. Healthcare professionals should ensure that they use a language which the individuals can understand in order to eradicate the possibility of being demotivated. Health experts should also foster open communication between their consumers. Therefore, the choice of health portals is an excellent health information technology tool because it will promote the interaction between the professionals and patients (Daniel & Hummel, 2010). As a result, the portals will provide information to the individuals about their medical history, lab results, medications, and other related information.

References

Agency for Healthcare Resources and Quality. (2015). Health information technology integration. Retrieved on April 5, 2017 from https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/prevention-chronic-care/improve/health-it/index.html

Daniel, D., & Hummel, J. (2010). HIT and meaningful use. Retrieved on April 5, 2017 from http://www.safetynetmedicalhome.org/change-concepts/quality-improvement-strategy

Hughes, S. (2004). Promoting Self management and patient independence. Nursing Standard, 1(10), 47-52.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine. (2017). Health literacy. Retrieved on April 5, 2017 from https://nnlm.gov/professional-development/topics/health-literacy

Saba, V., & McCormick, K. (2015). Consumer/patient engagement and ehealth resources. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers.