Team Support in Self Management

Managing one or more chronic conditions is ongoing hard work. One very basic support that practice teams can provide to patients and families is to acknowledge the work patients and families do to manage illness and recognize their central role in staying healthy. Every practice team member can support patients in this way. Physicians can help patients and family members understand that providers and practice staff work together as a team by introducing team members and explaining their roles, either in person or with a letter. Provide a warm handoff by introducing key team members in person and explaining the special role that a nurse or medical assistant plays. This increases patient confidence that the whole team is there to help and engenders trust. With training, all care team members can take a role in supporting patients, for example, greeting patients with a visit preparation form that asks about progress with self-management tasks, and providing self-management information and skills training to patients.