When a doctor or other health worker uses unfamiliar buzzwords about conditions or healthcare policy without providing an explanation, patients can feel confused and powerless. For healthcare professionals, it is crucial to avoid using buzzwords without offering an explanation. By helping to educate your patients, you can avoid misconceptions and reduce the mystery around healthcare.
In an age where healthcare policy is in a state of flux, "patient-centered care" is an increasingly popular model. This phrase is often used to refer to healthcare practices and care models that place more of the education and decision-making into the patients' hands. In a patient-centered care model, people are more involved in the healthcare process; they learn about all the treatment options, so they can be their own health advocates.
As cloud computing becomes a viable option for businesses, "cloud vs. closet" has become a popular phrase among healthcare professionals. The cloud refers to an Internet-based storage system that allows workers to access health records from any location, like a tablet or mobile phone. There are numerous benefits to the cloud model in the healthcare industry, including faster access to files, mobility, and better collaboration among doctors. The major concern about cloud computing in healthcare is privacy, so until cloud security is more robust, it may not be a viable option. Because of that, many practitioners stick to the traditional closet model, where patient files are stored on servers that are located on-site at the healthcare facility. In healthcare facilities, the cloud vs. closet issue may change as healthcare policies shift.
Patients who are looking for alternative care options may run across the term "medical extensivist." Essentially, a medical extensivist is a doctor, a nurse, or another practitioner that extends their services outside of the traditional healthcare facility setting. A medical extensivist may make home visits or visits to an assisted care facility, usually with the goal of preventing readmission to the hospital.
As the healthcare system, the Affordable Care Act, and the healthcare policy experience a change, the phrase "Choluteca Bridge" has become a buzzword. The Choluteca Bridge is a structure in Honduras that is known as a feat of engineering. Shortly after it was constructed, however, a strong hurricane blew through and redirected the river so it no longer ran under the bridge. As a result, the Choluteca Bridge has come to symbolize a system that is no longer suited to the current situation, like the healthcare system in the United States.
Patients who are dealing with changing healthcare policy and the introduction of the Affordable Care Act may opt for an HSA, which is an acronym for "Health Savings Account". An HSA is a medical savings account that can be used in combination with high-deductible health insurance plans to cover costs. Deposits into an HSA are not taxable. According to National Public Radio, HSAs are becoming increasingly popular as deductibles get higher.
With the confusion surrounding the national changes to healthcare policy, buzzwords often serve to cause more consternation in patients. If you take the time to educate your clients about popular phrases, you can make them feel more secure and in control.
(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)