Person-Centred Care and What it Means to the Caregiver
Guest Contributor: Hannah Magnusson, Pharmacy Technician at Exchange District Pharmacy
When you or your loved one needs increased medical care, it can often feel overwhelming navigating the health care system. There are so many moving parts in a care team; between family physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other health professionals, it can be hard to know where your place is.
These days, the gold-standard structure for a care team is “Patient-Centred Care” or “Person-Centred Care”. The most important thing to understand about this approach is that the patient is at the centre (or helm) of the care team, surrounded by a mix of healthcare professionals and family/community support. To have a patient-centred team means that while the various healthcare professionals may make recommendations for a treatment plan, the patient is the one who has the final say on whether or not the treatment is right for them.
The thing is, deciding on the right treatment plan for yourself or your loved one can be difficult, especially when your healthcare team involves multiple different practitioners or specialists. This is where your pharmacy can play a pivotal role in helping you keep track of your care plan and ensure that you understand your treatment.
Your pharmacy team is in contact with all of your care providers who prescribe drugs or medical devices for you. Whenever you request a fill of medication, your pharmacist will check the drug against the other medications you are taking and the reasons you are taking them to ensure that the drug treatment you are given is appropriate. They can also answer your questions about your condition and help you advocate for yourself if you feel your treatment plan isn’t meeting your health goals.
Beyond clinical support and guidance, your pharmacy team can also help ensure you’re able to adhere to your treatment plan and receive the best possible benefit from it. Most pharmacies will offer complementary bubble or strip packaging services. These packages are designed so that your medications are sorted into individual doses and administration times. This way, you only access the medication you need, in the specific dose you require, and can keep track of which doses you’ve already taken.
It’s a simple yet incredibly effective method of medication tracking used by all ages. Your pharmacy can also educate you on medical devices that are available to optimize the delivery of your medication, as well as devices that monitor your vital signs and help you keep track of your body’s function.
At the end of the day, the success of your treatment depends on your ability to understand, implement, and monitor the condition you are treating. Whether its simplifying medication management, offering guidance, helping you get the support you need, or helping you support your own wellness, your pharmacy team can play an instrumental role helping you achieve that success, all you have to do is ask.