http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2008/06/11/who-speaks-for-the-health-care-consumer/ The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:23:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2008/06/11/who-speaks-for-the-health-care-consumer/comment-page-1/#comment-22906 Representing “Consumers” in Health Care | Information Therapy (Ix) Blog Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:24:37 +0000 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2008/06/11/who-speaks-for-the-health-care-consumer/#comment-22906 [...] was a good post on the Health Affairs blog last month by Rob Cunningham titled, “Who Speaks for the Health Care Consumer?” It’s a great question and the post makes clear that it’s a complicated [...] [...] was a good post on the Health Affairs blog last month by Rob Cunningham titled, “Who Speaks for the Health Care Consumer?” It’s a great question and the post makes clear that it’s a complicated [...]

]]> http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2008/06/11/who-speaks-for-the-health-care-consumer/comment-page-1/#comment-22304 Ted Sekscenski Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:15:21 +0000 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2008/06/11/who-speaks-for-the-health-care-consumer/#comment-22304 Who speaks for the consumer? -- Why not "the consumer:" https://www.cahps.ahrq.gov/default.asp . CAHPS has been attempting to capture the voice of the health care consumer for over a doezn years, in several settings. It has evolved over these years as the delivery system has evolved. It is not perfect, but it is better than others speaking for the consumer. It is the consumer speaking, sometimes on issues he or she need additional information. Providing that may be at least in part the responsibility of the the health professional. It need not be the doctor, or at least not the doctor alone. Doctors, including specialusts, nurses, nurse practictioners, physician assistants, nutritionists, and others need to be organized into team delivery systems with patients at the center. All of this is doable, and known, and is already done in some settings today. These best team practices must be identified and then taught in health professions schools as the best methods to provide education to health care consumers. Who speaks for the consumer? — Why not “the consumer:” https://www.cahps.ahrq.gov/default.asp . CAHPS has been attempting to capture the voice of the health care consumer for over a doezn years, in several settings. It has evolved over these years as the delivery system has evolved. It is not perfect, but it is better than others speaking for the consumer. It is the consumer speaking, sometimes on issues he or she need additional information. Providing that may be at least in part the responsibility of the the health professional. It need not be the doctor, or at least not the doctor alone. Doctors, including specialusts, nurses, nurse practictioners, physician assistants, nutritionists, and others need to be organized into team delivery systems with patients at the center. All of this is doable, and known, and is already done in some settings today. These best team practices must be identified and then taught in health professions schools as the best methods to provide education to health care consumers.

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