What is the best approach to provide excellent care to a patient?

From the Guidelines

The best approach to providing excellent patient care is a comprehensive, patient-centered strategy that prioritizes individualized care plans, effective communication, and shared decision-making, as recommended by the most recent and highest quality study 1. This approach involves establishing a strong patient-provider relationship, actively listening to the patient's concerns, and involving them in decision-making about their care. Key components of this strategy include:

• Conducting thorough assessments that consider physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors affecting health
• Developing individualized care plans based on evidence-based practices, ensuring treatments are appropriate for the patient's specific condition, age, and medical history
• Maintaining continuity of care through proper documentation, regular follow-ups, and coordination with other healthcare providers
• Practicing cultural competence by respecting diverse backgrounds and adapting care accordingly
• Continuously monitoring treatment effectiveness and being willing to adjust approaches when needed, as emphasized in 2 and 3. By adopting this patient-centered approach, healthcare providers can improve health outcomes, build trust with patients, ensure appropriate interventions, and promote adherence to treatment plans through patient engagement and education, ultimately leading to better morbidity, mortality, and quality of life outcomes, as supported by 4 and 5.

From the FDA Drug Label

Patients should be informed of the following information before initiating therapy with an NSAID and periodically during the course of ongoing therapy Patients should also be encouraged to read the NSAID Medication Guide that accompanies each prescription dispensed.

The best approach to provide excellent care to a patient is to inform them of the potential risks and benefits of their medication, and to monitor them closely for any signs of adverse reactions. This includes:

• Cardiovascular thrombotic events: advise patients to be alert for symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or slurring of speech.
• Gastrointestinal effects: advise patients to be alert for signs and symptoms of ulcerations and bleeding, such as epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melena, and hematemesis.
• Serious skin reactions: advise patients to stop taking ibuprofen tablets immediately if they develop any type of rash or fever and to contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
• Heart failure and edema: advise patients to be alert for symptoms of congestive heart failure, including shortness of breath, unexplained weight gain, or edema. It is also important to encourage patients to read the NSAID Medication Guide and to periodically review their medication regimen to ensure that they are taking their medication as directed and to monitor for any potential interactions with other medications 6, 7.

From the Research

Approaches to Providing Excellent Care

To provide excellent care to patients, several approaches can be taken, including:

• Developing comprehensive care plans that promote communication and continuity of care across multiple care settings 8
• Assessing the patient's needs and planning effective care, with a focus on person-centred care and evidence-based interventions 9
• Implementing multidisciplinary team working, which involves collaboration between different healthcare professionals to provide high-quality patient care 10
• Using care management strategies, which can improve patient care and reduce the need for medical services by helping patients and caregivers manage health conditions 11

Key Elements of Effective Care

Some key elements of effective care include:

• Good identification of patients who could benefit from care management 11
• Specially-trained care managers working with physicians and a multidisciplinary team 11
• In-person patient contact and relational continuity of care 12
• Increased intensity and frequency of care coordination activities, including home visits 12
• Interpersonal communication and information transfer between patients, families, and healthcare teams 12

Benefits of Effective Care

The benefits of effective care include:

• Improved quality of care 9, 11
• Reduced hospital readmissions 11
• Cost savings, particularly in primary care settings 11
• Better management of complex health and social care needs 12