Empowering patients, enhancing outcomes: the value of patient voice

The voice of the patient is an increasingly important factor shaping the way services are delivered in the Australian healthcare sector. As patients become more engaged in their own care – and take on more responsibility for their own care – healthcare providers recognise the importance of the voice of the patient and the value of incorporating Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) and patient feedback into the design and delivery of their services.

Presented below is a summary of the importance of the patient voice and how it can help to improve healthcare outcomes:

 Promoting patient-centred care

Patient-centred care is an approach to healthcare that prioritises the patient’s experience and values their opinions and preferences. It involves a partnership between the patient and their healthcare team, where the patient is actively involved in decisions about their care. The patient voice is an essential component of patient-centred care, as it helps to ensure that care is personalised and responsive to the patient’s needs.

 Building trust and connection

Incorporating the patient voice into healthcare decision-making can also help to build trust between patients and their healthcare providers. Patients who feel that their opinions and concerns are being heard are more likely to have a positive view of their care experience. They are also more likely to feel empowered to take an active role in managing their own care.

By building trust and connection with patients, healthcare providers can improve patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans. This can lead to better health outcomes, as patients are more likely to follow through with recommended care and make positive changes to their health behaviours.

Improving patient outcomes

The patient voice can help to improve patient outcomes by identifying areas for improvement in the delivery of care. Patients can often provide unique insights into their experiences that may not be apparent to healthcare providers. By listening to the patient voice, healthcare providers can identify areas of care that need improvement and implement changes that address these concerns.

For example, a patient may provide feedback about the difficulty they experienced in navigating the healthcare system. This feedback can prompt healthcare providers to improve the coordination of care between different services, making it easier for patients to access the care they need.

 In summary, by prioritising patient voice, healthcare providers can ensure that care is personalised, responsive and effective.

To learn more, you can read about PREMs here and find out how powerful PREMs tools such as Active Insights can help you capture and understand the patient’s perspective along their healthcare journey. You can also read more about Why the patient’s voice is important in this article from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC).

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