IDD
In order to make sure that patients feel heard, respected, and included in their healthcare journey, it is crucial for healthcare practitioners to place a high priority on patient-centered care. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who could confront additional difficulties and demand specialised care plans, this is especially crucial. We will talk about the value of patient-centered care in IDD healthcare in this post, as well as how electronic health records (EHRs) might help.
Defining Patient-Centered Care in IDD Healthcare
Patient-centered care is a method of providing healthcare that puts the needs and preferences of the patient first, respects their cultural and social identities, and involves them in joint decision-making with the healthcare team. This strategy may be especially crucial in IDD healthcare, because patients may need a more all-encompassing, person-centered approach to care that takes into account their particular needs and objectives.
Respect for patient preferences and values, coordination and integration of care, and open communication between patients and clinicians are some of the fundamental tenets of patient-centered care. These concepts are especially crucial in IDD healthcare because people with IDD may need additional support and direction from their carers to understand the healthcare system and make decisions about their care.
According to research, patient-centered treatment can enhance healthcare results and patient satisfaction for those with IDD. For instance, a study that appeared in the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research indicated that integrating patient-centered care principles in IDD healthcare enhanced clinical results, patient satisfaction, and healthcare provider trust.
The Role of EHRs in Supporting Patient-Centered Care in IDD Healthcare
Electronic health records, or EHRs, are digital files that include a patient’s medical history, treatment options, test results, and other healthcare data. EHRs have the ability to promote patient-centered care in IDD healthcare by strengthening communication between care providers, coordinating care better, and making patient data more readily available.
For those with IDD who could receive care from several doctors, EHRs, for instance, might assist care professionals communicate patient information and agree on treatment plans more efficiently. EHRs can also be used to record patient preferences and goals, which can be used later on to design care plans that are better suited to the special requirements of people with IDD.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can be used in two more ways to improve the patient experience, in addition to the current methods for attaining patient-centered care in IDD healthcare and supporting these initiatives. Let’s examine these two tactics in more detail and how they can support patient-centered care in IDD healthcare.
- Customize Monitoring Alerts Based on Client Conditions:
The capacity to customise monitoring alerts to each client’s particular symptoms is a crucial component of patient-centered treatment in IDD healthcare. Customized alarms can be put up using electronic health records (EHRs), taking into account the unique requirements and dangers of each patient. For instance, if a patient has a history of seizures, the EHR can be set up to notify the care team if the patient forgets to take a prescription as prescribed or if there are any indications that their seizure activity has risen. This enables medical professionals to take preventative measures and offer prompt care to avert complications and enhance patient outcomes.
- Capturing Person-Specific Fields or Notes to Have More Personal Preferences:
EHRs can also contribute to patient-centered care in IDD healthcare by recording person-specific fields or remarks that allow for more individualised consideration of preferences. In order to ensure that their care is customised to their needs, a patient with autism, for instance, may have sensory sensitivities that should be included in their medical record. Together with other personal preferences like preferred activities, communication styles, and dietary limitations, the EHR can be utilised to record this data. Healthcare practitioners may make sure that the care they offer is individualised and takes into account each patient’s particular requirements and preferences by having access to this data easily in the EHR.
Best Practices for Using EHRs to Support Patient-Centered Care in IDD Healthcare
While EHRs could significantly enhance patient-centered care in IDD healthcare, there are also potential obstacles and constraints that need to be taken into account. Making sure the EHR is tailored for the unique needs of people with IDD is one potential difficulty. To make sure that the EHR software is created to fit the specific needs of their patients, healthcare professionals may need to collaborate with EHR vendors.
Making sure that patients and their carers are involved in care planning and have access to their own health information is another possible difficulty. EHRs can aid in communication between healthcare professionals and patients or carers, but it is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to ensure that patients and carers are actively involved in the care planning process.
To effectively use EHRs to support patient-centered care in IDD healthcare, healthcare providers should:
- Involve patients and caregivers in the care planning process
- Customize EHR templates for IDD populations
- Ensure that all care providers have access to the EHR and are trained on how to use it effectively
- Regularly review and update the care plan as needed
Conclusion
In conclusion, delivering high-quality healthcare to people with IDD requires patient-centered care. By easing communication between care providers, monitoring patient progress, and recording patient preferences and goals in the record, EHRs have the potential to significantly improve patient-centered care in IDD healthcare. There are best practises that healthcare professionals can adhere to in order to use EHRs to promote patient-centered care for people with IDD. Zkare’s IDD software is an example of an EHR developed to assist patient-centered care for people with IDD. In order to ensure that people with IDD receive the best care possible, healthcare professionals and EHR suppliers should collaborate.