Shared Decision Making

Evidence shows that sharing patient records has a beneficial effect on patients and staff. Why then do staff find it difficult and patients often feel ill informed? Only around 50 Practices have electronic records available to patients. Some Practices and Departments are still struggling with routinely copying letters to patients. In our work with staff the answer often lies in their anxiety and concern for their patients.

At the heart of 'No Decisions about me without me' is a complex process of information exchange. If this is going to succeed staff have to be given opportunities to work through their own anxieties, rethink their existing practices, understand how and when what methods are most effective. At the end of the process good information timely delivered becomes the culture, a culture in harmony with shared decision making.

4Ps has been involved in copying letters and reports development programmes since 1999; which we describe as ‘letter sharing’. We ran one of the national Department of Health pilots on best ways of working with professionals and have an online resource for implementation. It is a key element of the Patient Friendly recognition scheme.

Some of the most satisfying work we have done has been working with staff on sharing information and observing the subsequent changes they made in their work areas. For more information and examples of culture change contact us