This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Tailor care for patients with multiple health conditions
There should be a tailored approach to care when treating someone who has two or more long-term health conditions, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
New NICE guidelines outline the ways to put patients with complex health issues at the heart of decisions about their care, including how to decide between different medicines and treatments.
A 2012 report by the Department of Health estimated that caring for patients with multiple health conditions could require £5 billion in additional expenditure by 2018.
The guideline recommends developing an individual management plan to help optimise care and treatment in line with the patient’s wishes. The plan will also help the patient prioritise appointments for different conditions and help decide what treatments are appropriate to stop if they offer limited benefit.
Alongside the guideline, NICE has set up a database which summarises the benefits and adverse side effects of a number of common treatments, aiming to help healthcare professionals work together with their patients to make joint decisions about their care.
Professor Bruce Guthrie, professor of primary care medicine at the University of Dundee and chair of the guideline group, said: “The number of people with many long-term health conditions is set to rise. It can be really difficult to care for these patients because the conditions they have and their treatments can interact causing unwanted side effects.
“The new guideline highlights the need for clinicians to discuss with their patients what the benefits and side effects of drugs or treatments might be. A decision on what treatment is best for the patient, based on their wishes, can then be made – and this could lead to stopping treatment if appropriate.”
Professor Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, added: “Our guideline brings an important perspective to light – that it’s our responsibility as health care professionals to deliver person-centred care, not disease-focused treatment.
“We have set out recommendations and developed tools to help clinicians work together with their patients to establish what’s important. Giving tailored care will make a real difference to how a patient can manage their conditions in their daily lives.”
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