Patient Self-Management Succeeds with Support of Family Practice

• FHT communication skills: encourage information seeking; receptive to questions; provides clarification; assures understanding
• FHT support skills: provides tools and information for self-monitoring of symptoms and health status
• Appropriate FHT member (nurse, pharmacist, SW, nutritionist, physiotherapist)
• FHT treatment support (advise on medication use, monitor adverse effects, choice of therapies)
• FHT referral to specialist as appropriate; case management to support patient

 FHT Key to Patient Self-Management

• FHT identifies patients at risk for chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension)
• FHT registers and monitors patient; recommends diet, exercise
• FHT identifies patients (and caregivers) potentially benefit from PSM (skills and strategies to make lifestyle change; manage medications; monitor symptoms)
• FHT refers to PSM (patients most likely to comply when referral from FP)
• FHT supports patient in self-management: encourages questions, provides information, recommends diet and exercise; provides feedback about “numbers” and health status