The power of “Meaningful”

My grandson Myles is in the middle of being potty trained. His parents have found success in buying underwear that he enjoys wearing. Because he likes these underwear, he doesn’t want to mess them up. They have found success because they tapped into what is meaningful to him in order to achieve the intended outcome.

This concept is relatable when we’re talking about healthcare. “Meaningful” is important to both the provider and consumer of healthcare. “Meaningful” needs to be included in organizational goals; not overall goals, but individual, patient-centered approaches.

I believe if we can provide meaningful information to patients, it has the potential of improving patient behaviors that meet the desired outcome of improving their health. We have to stop pointing fingers at patients stating what they didn’t do, and what they didn’t follow up on. Let’s make a concerted effort to tap into what is meaningful to our patients that encourage them to make good decisions regarding their health.