Chronic Care Model

How do you bridge the health care you provide from 'acute care' to 'chronic care'?

I've been thinking about it. Do you agree with the theory that:

Acute Care is the healthcare professional 'fixing' the problem: i.e. prescribing medications, teaching self monitoring so that 'we can look at the numbers', prescribing food plans, exercise plans, etc.

Chronic Care is the healthcare professional learning to let go of the control and teaching the patient/family the life skills needed to live well with a chronic disease? What if the patient doesn't want to be in charge? What if we really are not willing to let go of the control or need to 'fix' things?

I'm not sure all health care providers give much thought to the different approach required for Chronic Care management. No wonder the patient doesn't get it.

Jesus taught with parables and I'm beginning to understand the importance of talking to patients in a language they might understand. I don't think that language is medical terminology. It might be fun if we could develop a large number of analogies that we think would help our patients understand diabetes in a language they can understand. I'll offer one tomorrow. Please feel free to offer one of your own as a 'post' to this blog.

Thanks for your time.

Brenda