Realistic Medicine

Information for Professionals

What is Realistic Medicine?

Introducing Realistic Medicine video from NHS Education for Scotland.

Dr Babu Mukhopadhyay, clinical lead for realistic medicine, explains what Realistic Medicine is from NHS Lanarkshire’s perspective.

Six pillars of Realistic Medicine

Videos from NES on Vimeo

Personalised Approach to Care

Shared Decision Making

Managing Risk Better

Reduce Harm and Waste

Reduce Unwarranted Variation

Become Improvers and Innovators

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Realistic Healthcare in Lanarkshire

Realistic Medicine for Lanarkshire is about realistic health and care and supports patients, their families and health care providers to discuss care and treatment options and together formulate the best treatment plan.

NHS Lanarkshire aspires to be a healthcare provider where all decisions about a person’s care, tests or treatment, are taken together after discussion with the person or their carer. This process is enabled through shared decision making, focussing on person centred care.

We have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of healthcare professionals who are working tirelessly to ensure that realistic health and care is adopted widely across the health board and its associated partnerships to assist realistic shared discussions in all aspects of health and care.

Lanarkshire has come a long way in the last 5 years, but there is still work to do to deliver comprehensive realistic health and care for the people of Lanarkshire.

The Right Decision Service is a national application you can download onto your smart device. It was developed with Health Improvement Scotland and it provides many resources that you may wish to use about being a partner in your care, or you may wish to use the resources provided on this webpage.

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Value based health and care

Value based health and care is the about ensuring our services are equally shared, accessible and sustainable. This will help us achieve better outcomes and experiences for every person using our services.

We know that demand for health and care services is increasing and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to make optimal use of the resources we have and provide better value care – for patients and our system.

Using a Value Based Health & Care approach includes the provision of high-quality care. However, it also includes person centred care; care where healthcare professionals work in partnership with the people they care for, to provide care based on what matters most to them – not just “value” based on cost, measurable outcomes, and efficiency metrics.

The video below may help you to understand value based health and care:

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Shared Decision Making

Shared decision making is about empowering and supporting staff and patients in a collaborative approach that enables decision making.

In Lanarkshire we developed the 5 Questions to support and guide all patients in question prompts that can be used in any healthcare setting, be that in the hospital or in primary care.

5 Questions to ask at your appointment before you get any test, treatment or medicine

Need?
Do I really need this test, treatment or medicine?
Benefit?
What are the benefits to me?
Risk?
Are there any risks or side effects?
Change?
How can I improve my condition or health?
If I don’t?
What will happen if I don’t do anything?

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The Choosing Wisely initiative suggests four questions (BRAN) for patients to use at appointments.

What is BRAN?

BRAN are questions to help patients make an informed choice about their test and treatment options.

4 Questions to ask my clinician or nurse to make better decision together

What are the Benefits?
What are the Risks?
What are the Alternatives?
What if I do Nothing ?

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It’s OK to Ask

When you understand what’s going on with your health, you can make better decisions around your care and treatment. That’s why it’s important to ask your healthcare team the right questions.

To find out more visit, nhsinform.scot/its-OK-to-ask

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5 Moments for Medication Safety

This year’s World Patient Safety Day campaign was on Medication Without Harm. In support of this we would recommend the World Health Organisation resource to reduce the risk of harm to you by following these actions:

Know the medication, Check it is the right medicine, the right dose and time and ask your professional if unsure.

The 5 Moments for Medication Safety is a helpful tool before taking any medication.

Click to view larger version

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What is shared decision making?

Shared decision making is about shifting the focus of doctor knows best to a collaborative discussion between patient and professional enabling decisions on benefits, risks and choices on what matters most for the individual.

Outpatient information sheet

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Treatment Escalation Planning

Treatment Escalation Planning is a crucial part of ensuring we have shared decision making with our patients during their stay in our hospitals and are particularly useful in helping to discuss risks and benefits of treatment options when faced with an acute change in your clinical condition. Formerly known as the hospital anticipatory care plans (HACPs) and revised as treatment escalation plans (TEPs) will ensure patients’ wishes are supported with the most appropriate treatment and care while reducing the risk of harm.

Treatment Escalation Planning

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Virtual Consultation

During the pandemic many healthcare appointments could not be undertaken face to face with your professional. To overcome this and to ensure continued access virtual / remote appointments were introduced.

In NHS Lanarkshire like many other boards, Near Me is used. Using Near Me reduces the need to travel to an appointment, it is a safe and private service and can be accessed using a mobile, laptop, PC and or tablet.