Recommendations made for partnering patients in health care

(HealthDay)—Changes need to be implemented in the education system in order to fully integrate patients and their families as equal partners in health care, according to a report based on recommendations made at a conference convened by the Macy Foundation.

The report covers recommendations crafted by conference participants and relating to the integration of patients and their families as full and equal partners in health care.

The recommendations include making changes in the content and conduct of the education of health professions in order to graduate health professionals who can partner with patients and their families. To facilitate durable partnerships with patients and their families, changes should be made in health professions education organizations and health care organizations. The capacity for building these partnerships should be built in health professions education and health care organizations. Finally, regulatory and payment reforms should be encouraged that require, support, and sustain these partnerships.

"We must move beyond what we typically think of as 'patient engagement' efforts—things like inviting patients to respond to surveys or to participate on advisory panels—and integrate patients and families as partners throughout the health professions education and delivery system," George Thibault, M.D., president of the Macy Foundation, said in a statement.

Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.