Are patients caught up in a tug-of-war between clinicians and payers?

As more healthcare systems try to make shared-decision making a reality, effective communication will be vital to their success.

Case in point – the new NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans focus on improving a patient’s ability to manage their own health with self-care and self-management programmes, peer support, and ‘patient activation’ approaches. They see it as a way to reduce variation in prescribing by ‘working with patients to improve their overall wellbeing by seeking lifestyle improvement as part of the elective pathway’[1].  

Done well, patients feel involved in their health care. Done not so well, patient choice in prescribing and care options could be limited, or worse, they feel caught up in a tug-of-war between clinicians and payers.

The key is empowering both healthcare professionals and patients with pragmatic and transparent communication tools that support true shared-decision making.

We work with our clients to find approaches that add value to their brand while firmly placing patients at the center of care. It’s what drives us at Page & Page. If you feel there is an opportunity for your brand or company to take part in ensuring shared-decision making becomes a reality, please get in touch.

We’re currently offering a free ? day strategic communications workshops to help our clients spot opportunities for 2018. If this would be of interest please drop me a line: [email protected]

[1] Gloucestershire Sustainability and Transformation Plan “Transforming Care, Transforming Communities” (Autumn 2016)