EMPOWERING PEOPLE IN NINE WAYS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE

by Carter Toni

EMPOWERING PEOPLE IN NINE WAYS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE

The health of society improves at all levels when individuals take on self-care responsibilities. This is where health information technology comes in, and organize, review, and improve medical records using information technology. With this integration of technology in the healthcare system, people are now able to take care of their wellness in innovative ways.

Health Informatics are the professionals that handle, store and analyze a vast amount of data and extract medical information from it. With their expertise in information technology, healthcare, database management, and information systems, Health informatics help people to have control over their health.

Getting into this role is one of the best ways to empower people to take charge of their health and make a significant impact on society’s health. To become a healthcare informatics, you need to acquire a degree of masters in healthcare informatics that will allow you basic insights into the health care system and its operations. Studying this field makes these individuals tech-literate and gives them a fundamental understanding of medical matters, which upon using the right techniques, can empower people to live a healthy lifestyle.

Below is a list of nine core functions a health informatics can work on to empowering people so they can take charge of their health.

1. Run Campaign to enhance Health Literacy

Health literacy refers to understanding basic health-related matters. This means medical institutes need to analyze situations around them and take necessary measures to enhance health.

Several people do not realize that health is wealth until they fall sick or see a loved one suffering. It is often the loss of someone close that makes a person realize it could have been avoided. As a preventative measure, increasing health literacy is vital. One way to spread health awareness is to run campaigns so public people can understand the importance of health.

People may have the means to access their EHR, but it’s of no use unless they can value from it. To empower people and take charge of their wellness, medical institutes can use multiple digital platforms to run campaigns and educate people about health.

2. Educate them about Maintaining Wellness

Health is a gift that people often lose because of their ignorance and carelessness. In order to maintain their wellness, they should take care of their diet, maintain sanitization, and avoid harmful practices.

Medical institutes can organize workshops, seminars and visit people to educate them on the best ways to stay healthy. Learning fitness tips is also possible via online support groups and patient-centered communication. By presenting convincing arguments, experts help others realize how important cleaning and hygienic habits are.

3. Make Patients’ Health Records Available to Them 

The world is becoming digitalized at a fast rate, and many people are learning using technical devices. Medical experts can empower communities through the sharing of medical data, with the vision of motivating them to stay healthy.

Visiting doctors or laboratories to receive medical test reports can be time-consuming and often delaying deteriorating medical conditions. Giving patients access to their health records help in saving time and enhances people’s wellbeing.

4. Encourage People to Follow Healthy Lifestyles

The vast majority of people have unhealthy lifestyles without realizing the detrimental effects they have on their wellness. Healthcare informatics will help communities understand the importance of healthy eating and the impact of harmful practices, such as smoking, drinking or sleeping late.

There are also cases where obesity is not considered a problem unless other diseases in the body become visible. Health informatics have access to data which they can use to come up with strategies that raise community awareness. This medical data will give them direction and allow them to design their awareness campaigns according to the needs of society.

5. Make Patients’ Health Records Available to Them 

The world is becoming digitalized at a fast rate, and many people are learning using technical devices. Medical experts can empower communities through the sharing of medical data, with the vision of motivating them to stay healthy.

Visiting doctors or laboratories to receive medical test reports can be time-consuming and often delaying deteriorating medical conditions. Giving patients access to their health records help in saving time and enhances people’s wellbeing.

6. Motivate them to Discuss Health-related Matters

Not everyone is vocal about themselves, especially regarding their health. A number of people prefer not to discuss details of their health, which can deprive them of the knowledge of basic preventive measures.

Sharing health-related knowledge can improve people’s awareness of healthy habits. Health practitioners can cultivate such an environment by actively encouraging people to engage in health-related discussions.

7. Raise Awareness of the Importance of Mental Health

Despite the media’s s efforts of highlighting the importance of mental health, many people still consider psychological health insignificant. They dismiss mental health issues such as depression and anxiety as cultural stereotypes.

It is important to know that mental health and physical wellbeing are interrelated. To maintain holistic health, one must focus on both mental and physical aspects of the body. Health informatics’ role here is to help medical professionals bring psychological wellbeing to the forefront of their practices with data and technical tools.

8. Introduce Self-Management Health Systems

Self-managing health systems aim to empower patients to take responsibility for their treatments. Health informatics utilize their knowledge of information technology to develop plans that help patients monitor their health changes. They will design a self-explanatory application or a portal and upload patients’ information behind a code. The patient may need training, but it will relieve the health professionals of some of their responsibilities and allows the patient to take care of his/her well-being.

9. Utilize Telehealth

Telehealth refers to the delivery of healthcare by digital means. Medical professionals and patients use telecommunication technologies for diagnosis and treatments. Health practitioners and patients both benefit from telehealth since it saves them time and is relatively inexpensive. Health informatics are tech-savvy people who can help doctors use telehealth to empower patients and gain more insight into their health.

10. Encourage Peer-interaction

Although telehealth can help people reach their concerned doctors on time, it is not a doctor’s replacement. People can use it to discuss information about diseases, treatment options, doctors and their experiences. The peer interaction through health facilities’ websites or apps allows health care providers to share their knowledge and help one another to improve wellbeing.

Conclusion

Healthy people are more confident, make rational decisions and are more likely to succeed in life. Although the illness is inevitable in many situations, there are several instances in which people can take steps to prevent it, simply by staying healthy. Empowering people and making them adequate to maintain their wellness results in healthier communities.

Modern healthcare uses advanced technology and applies various strategies that are aimed at empowering people and enabling them to be their own advocates. With the latest gadgets, people can monitor their blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol level and take actions to stabilize them. Similarly, they can learn more about their health through portals and stay in touch with their doctors. While tech is a great tool to help, it is still a tool and consulting healthcare practitioners is a necessary step.

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