Health literacy
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Haughton and Thornley Medical Centres
When asked where they look for health information, most people say they rely on their GP first and foremost, so general practices have a key role in helping to build health literacy.
What is the initiative?
The Haughton and Thornley Medical Centres have sought to improve local health literacy by giving patients online access to their medical records as well as encouraging them to understand and monitor their own health.
How are patients involved?
A bespoke practice website acts as a health 'portal' where patients can see trusted information about health and disease as well as the services that are on offer offered locally to help patients and their families.
In particular it encourages patients to access their electronic health records on-line so that they can make the most of the information and the services on offer.
They are taught how to become empowered and what this means for them so that they can make choices about the care they receive.
This includes sections on how to make best use of consultations with doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals and advice on self care for a range of conditions including depression, diabetes and heart disease. There is a section on normal health (pregnancy) and prevention (immunisations).
This portal helps patients to understand a framework which they can then use to create their own health literacy for conditions that they suffer with or are at risk of developing. Patients are also able to make appointments and repeat prescriptions through the site.
Patients and carers are educated in how to use the website, understand their records and what they can do outside of the GP's consulting room to manage their condition, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
What difference has it made?
Patients report that they are more able to understand, manage and cope with their health.
Patients can access their records online and then let other carers or other health workers view the records in their presence. These carers and staff can then support the patient on the spot rather than having to make extra trips to attend GP consultations with the patient.
Online services help patients avoid costly and time consuming trips to the surgery to get repeat prescriptions or to find out about their health.
GPs report more satisfactory consultations with better informed patients who wish to discuss their health and gain a better understanding of what outcomes they are aiming for. There is a partnership of trust between patients and clinicians, supported by the information technology.
Patients are able to refer other healthcare professionals to their records without the need to contact or consult their surgery.
What patients say
Watch the video Click to play >
