SERVICES

We provide:

• Initial assessments in physician practices and in health care organizations on communication processes and procedures used by both patients and providers.
• In collaboration with clients, after assessments, assistance with implementation of communication improvements that are simple and practical, and consistent with setting-specific best practices.
• Teaching to academic medical departments and other health-related groups with the goal of improving patient care communications.
• Presentations to the public on how to improve communications with health care providers.

Contracts

Every engagement is unique. Each contract involves a customized letter of agreement/contract specifically designed to meet the specific goals and objectives.

Communication Processes

Understanding patient care communication in any setting starts with evaluations of the strengths and challenges of current processes utilized by both patients and health care providers. These are compared to best practices. Using criteria of practicality, low cost, and simplicity, improvements are identified in close collaboration with clients.

One component for analysis can include the organization of the complex array of critical information relevant to each patient’s situation. This information can be vast in older adults and people with disability, especially during acute and catastrophic illness. The Siebens Domain Management Model (SDMM), originating from comprehensive rehabilitation, organizes all patients’ strengths, concerns, and problems into one of four Domains:

I. Medical/Surgical Issues
II. Mental Status/Emotions/Coping
III. Physical Function
IV. Living Environment
                                               © Hilary C. Siebens MD 2005

Use of the model actually saves time through more efficient organization of patient information.

Another focus of analysis, and potential improvement, in the process of actual patient-provider communication is evaluating the use of simple, tangible approaches (health care folders, patient care notebooks). These approaches, and others, turn out to be very doable, win-win solutions for providers as well as patients and their families. Again, these approaches don’t take more time. They replace or strengthen less organized communication with more efficient, patient-centered approaches. To discover more about how these approaches help patients recover, selected publications by Dr. Siebens and others are provided for your reference.  For those considering use of the SDMM, please see the SDMM Use Guidelines.

The Siebens Health Care Notebook (SHCN)

The Siebens Health Care Notebook, a 3-ringed binder, helps patients manage their care by clearly organizing critical information from many providers. Patients often don’t remember verbal directions and have a hard time locating critical basic health information. The notebook is an easy to follow time-saving tool to help reduce or eliminate the struggle to keep health information organized. Health-related information is organized into four sections, based on the clinical Siebens Domain Management Model (SDMM) that is understandable to patients and providers alike. Key features/benefits include:

• Empowers patients, caregivers, and providers to partner more effectively
• Helps providers convey information more effectively
• Facilitates follow-through and patient-centered care
• Assists providers in meeting accreditation standards

Want more information?  More information is available in our informative flyer.  View a free educational video of a live meeting training webcast Communication, Portable Profiles, and An Example with slides and questions/answers performed in September 2009. The first segment, 60 minutes, reviews key research relating to communication with patients and includes evidence for the use of patient or health care notebooks/binders. The second segment, 30 minutes, reviews features and benefits of the Siebens Health Care Notebook. Live meeting training webcast participant feedback has been very positive.

Ready to order?  The Siebens Health Care Notebook (SHCN) helps patients manage their care by clearly organizing critical information from many providers.  Order your copy of the Siebens Health Care Notebook (SHCN) today.

Courtesy Downloads and Links

For physicians and other healthcare professionals

• The Siebens DMM Communication Card (The SDMM CCard) is available (No Charge). This card summarizes for physicians the key headings, including the Siebens DMM, for the documentation of patient encounters. Other health care professionals may find it useful as well.  In order to download The CCard, please first provide your email address as a guest of our site. (Note our Privacy Policy.) Also, please use the comments box to indicate whether or not you wish to receive periodic updates from us. Thank you.
• Video lecture on Preoperative Preparation of the Older Patient (using the SDMM) by Hilary Siebens, MD at the Society of Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting, January 2005 (No Charge) (Note: is a streaming video that runs 45 minutes) (www.sts.org/2005webcast/faculty_content.html).
• View a free educational video of a live meeting training webcast Communication, Portable Profiles, and An Example with slides and questions/answers performed in September 2009. The first segment, 60 minutes, reviews key research relating to communication with patients and includes evidence for the use of patient or health care notebooks/binders. The second segment, 30 minutes, reviews features and benefits of the Siebens Health Care Notebook. Live meeting training webcast participant feedback has been very positive.

For health systems' planning care for older adults and people with disabilities

Article on use of the Siebens Domain Management Model (SDMM) to organize patient information across the healthcare continuum: Integration of a Patient’s Care Within a Health Care Network, Terrence O’Malley MD and David Storto, Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Fall 2002, Volume 9, pp 87-89 (No Charge)
http://thomasland.metapress.com/link.asp?id=k8w2tr3d8jq0dwyd 

Download the Siebens Domain Management Model Communication Card (The SDMM CCard)
 

 

Please contact us for more information about our services.