The Power of a Team-Based Approach to Empowering Patients

The VHAN Care Management team is helping drive population health transformation by engaging patients in shared decision-making approaches to their care plans. VHAN nurse care coordinators, pharmacists and licensed clinical social workers collaborate with practices and clinicians across the network, serving as an extension of their care team.

Recently, Lauren Shaw, RN, BSN, CDE and Chris Terry, PharmD, CDE, engaged with a primary care physician to support a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes. The team was able to address her fear of using a needle, and their routine check-ins and personalized conversations contributed to the patient’s improved health and quality of life. The patient was empowered to be a partner in the development of her own care plan, which included specific health goals. Each member of her care team was kept in the loop on her progress.

Click here to watch a short video on how the team supported the patient in managing her diabetes and, in her own words, how they made her “feel special knowing the team was working together in [her] best interest.”