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The road to patient empowerment begins by seeking out reliable information about your health and using this information to become an active participant in care.
In the United States and Canada, by law, patients can own and access their healthcare information through the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Canadian Privacy Act of 2004.
Since these laws have passed, technological growth has made healthcare information more accessible. Patients expect to be able to access this information about their healthcare and will use it to play an active role in their healthcare choices.
Patient empowerment through information and access positively impacts the journey of care. Empowered patients also feel more engaged: they’ve gained the right information to ask informed questions and discuss their results confidently.
Understanding how to become empowered on your medical care journey begins by learning:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines empowerment as the process through which patients can gain more control over the decisions and actions that affect their health. Patient empowerment can also mean actively participating in your healthcare journey.
Patient empowerment contains 4 elements:
Becoming an empowered patient is a purposeful decision. Traditionally, healthcare used a top-down approach, with a doctor telling their patient what to do and their patient following those instructions as well as they can. This approach has left some patients in the dark about their healthcare options, the terminology they must navigate and their understanding of the next steps on their journey.
Gaining the knowledge to understand the medical diagnostic terms in referrals and educational materials increases patient autonomy. Having the ability to access their own test results, get a second opinion or create and adjust a schedule of care online is vital in creating a health system that values patient participation.
It’s just as important that patient caregivers can access and understand the information affecting patient care. They also require the ability to engage safely and easily with practitioners. A caregiver is often the other main party involved in patient care, which means an empowered caregiver allows for an empowered patient.
Research shows that giving patients access to their healthcare data allows for better medical outcomes and lower treatment costs, among other positive results. A study conducted by OpenNotes found that 60% of patients who had access to their doctor’s notes became more likely to take their medical care seriously, and 77% felt that increased access helped them feel more in control of their healthcare.
Recent 2022 research shows that empowered patients are engaged patients—and they’re also healthier. Patients who participated in their own care and shared decision-making with their practitioners also experienced less pain, decreased medical costs and reduced anxiety and depression.
Empowering patients to participate in their own care also means they become more motivated to closely follow their doctor’s recommendations and keep follow-up appointments. Patients who are more engaged in their care are 14% less likely to end up back in hospital, according to a recent orthopedic patient study.
But what if empowered patients actually experience a better journey of medical care? 85% of patients given access to their own medical imaging and test results reported a better care experience, according to a 2022 PocketHealth survey. And 91% of patients say having secure access to their digital medical imaging on PocketHealth helps them have more confident and informed discussions with their care practitioner.
Difficulty accessing medical documents or delayed follow-up appointments happen even with the best intentions. Lack of reliable medical information online or short-staffed clinics can reduce patient control over their next steps. Each obstacle listed below can make it difficult to feel empowered as a patient and making informed decisions can be even more challenging.
Empowered patients prepare in many different ways to help them navigate and participate in their own healthcare. These patients are not satisfied by following only their practitioner’s instructions at face value but feel more confident when they understand the reasons behind their doctor’s choices and how these decisions impact care.
Confident, empowered patients are drivers, not passengers, in their healthcare journey. They take charge of their care by:
Becoming an empowered advocate for your own health begins with you. PocketHealth can help you reach a state of empowerment—faster, by providing:
“Accessing my imaging records and reports through PocketHealth has really improved communication with my healthcare providers. I go into appointments prepared and empowered. I have the information already—I’ve read it, digested it and have my list of questions. We’re not wasting any time. We go directly to action.”
– Kristy, PocketHealth User
Medical advancements in technology and patient care move quickly. Thanks to the expansion of digital security, more and more patients can access medical information that helps them participate more easily in their healthcare journey.
Patients can practice empowerment from the moment they first speak with their practitioner and throughout their follow-up care by reviewing medical reports and asking relevant, informed questions about treatment. This approach allows patients to share the responsibility of treatment alongside their doctor, placing them squarely in a position of confidence.
Although socioeconomic barriers to healthcare will continue to persist, technology has allowed patients to access and review medical documents, book and cancel appointments and even speak with their practitioners—all online.
Empowered patients are learning that increased health literacy and shared decision-making capabilities lead to better outcomes for all.
