Patient Education & Physician Education, What's the Difference?

Patient education is the process where members of the medical profession impart information to patients that will improve their health status by effecting changes in behavior.

Patient education encompasses:

                Improved understanding of medical condition

                Improved understanding of methods to manage medical condition.

                Improved self advocacy in working with medical providers.

                Increased Compliance- by complying with treatment plan, better outcomes and fewer complications will result.

                Utilization – More effective use of medical services – fewer unnecessary phone calls and visits.

                Satisfaction and referrals – Patients more likely to stay with your practice and refer other patients.

                Risk Management and informed consent – Lower risk of malpractice when patients have realistic expectations.

Physician education

Following medical school and residency training physicians must participate in continuing education. Medical knowledge and technology are changing rapidly. Surgeons in particular, must be able to access and evaluate the current literature in order to evaluate these new techniques and thus, provide optimal care for their patients and use health care resources wisely.