How can you provide holistic care that addresses patients' physical, emotional, and social needs?

Building rapport goes beyond looking at statistics and assuming what a person needs are based on the community they live. Building a true rapport begins with a blinding conversation and listening ears. Providers have to understand that patients are not textbooks or data to be collected, but individuals that are human. They have real lives that are affected by the treatment that a provider gives. Building rapport doesn’t weaken your ability to provide care, it actually enhances your quality of care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes and quality metrics.

It is important to truly listen to our patients, understand their unique needs, values, and preferences. We need to engage them in their care decisions and respect their autonomy. Quite often, I hear clients share about how they feel judged because they look, dress, or behave differently from the practitioner. In a global community, we need to be culturally sensitive as we navigate this space.

I think it's important to think broader than the biological model and conduct a thorough assessment that encompass physical, emotional, and social aspects of health. This includes not only medical history but also psychosocial factors and social determinants of health. In primary care, brief screeners can be quite helpful, along with exploring for aspects of stress and trauma.

Validated self-assessment metrics in different areas of well-being and health can be used for this purpose. Before selecting the self-assessment metrics, it is very important to define the quality of life concept.

In my opinion, there is a need for a mindset towards a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach that includes various healthcare professionals, including nurses, social workers, psychologists, and therapists, to address all aspects of patient well-being. It is also important to listen to those involved in the MDT and consider each other's perspective. We are all working together towards patient care and not a competitive environment. Collaboration is key!

I often use visuals - either drawing/writing while explaining or pictures and videos to break things down into bite size information. Educational resources shared in session are emailed to them so that can help serve as reminders/reference information. I might also shared other reading resources or recommend books they could read. I find it helpful to ask client to reflect on the session and the key take-away points. It is helpful to leave time to address any questions they have as well.

I believe that clients or patients have their own inner resources and we as healthcare providers need to tap into their resources to help them enhance their health and well-being. Working with the patient allows us to emphasize on preventive health as well as advocate for patients' rights and needs within the healthcare system, helping them navigate complex medical and social service systems.

I’ve learned a lot from some of the new care models in hospice (Guaranteed Health) and the innovative work they’ve done with religious preferences, and Home Health (Tomorrow Health) and how site of care plays into holistic care (just like online shopping, there’s a strong consumer preference for care or recovery in the home). The combination of people AND technology (definitely not people or tech or people vs tech) will continue to be a powerful driver of learning individual preferences and then delivering them.

Acknowledging and addressing financial concerns or constraints is vital for holistic care. Providing resources for accessing financial assistance programs or discussing cost-effective treatment options can alleviate a significant source of stress for patients.