How can you effectively manage high-risk patients?

The presence of clear and predefined criteria and algorithms for patients classification and stratification is the cornerstone for this beside the qualified competent medical staff. According to the result the patient can be managed accordingly both Medically and Administratively.

We need to start with what "high risk" really means. There is a difference between severity, stability and acuity (a patient may be severly ill but stable). Do we need 3 different scoring tools as there is not 1 measure that encompasses all 3 areas?

Effectively managing high-risk patients in healthcare necessitates a compassionate approach. First, we must understand that these patients require personalised care plans tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Begin by conducting a thorough risk assessment. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop a comprehensive care strategy. Effective communication is paramount; engage patients and their carers/families in shared decision-making. Continuous monitoring is key. Employ technology for remote monitoring. Stay vigilant for early warning signs and adapt care plans accordingly. Prioritise education. Equip patients with the knowledge and tools to actively manage their health. Empower them to make informed decisions.

Building a patient-centric platform that empowers high-risk patients and leverages their data for predictive healthcare can be instrumental in addressing the challenge of managing high-risk patients. This platform offers a means for patients to actively engage in their healthcare journey, enhancing their understanding of their conditions and fostering a sense of ownership over their well-being. By harnessing patient data and predictive analytics, healthcare managers can identify high-risk patients more effectively and intervene proactively to prevent complications or hospitalizations. This improves patient satisfaction and outcomes and reduces healthcare costs.

"High-risk patients" have also been (quietly) labelled "Heart-sink patients" in general practice. Simply because they do take so much time, keep coming back, and often make little headway clinically. They can also have an external locus of control, "Well, that didn't work. What are you going to do next?" This subtle (or not so subtle) shift of responsibility is also a factor in the development of doctor burnout. So, Yes to patient empowerment. With coaching to the realisation that they can take control of their own lives and their own health. This requires a shift in health belief, to an internal locus of control; my destiny is in my hands. They also deserve understanding and compassion. There is often a history of childhood trauma.

In my experience, the care of high-risk patients is often stellar. When issues do creep in though, it often comes down to there being a breakdown in communication and/or of an established integrated pathway. I have seen a variety of different approaches used here in the U.S., and back in the U.K., but I believe by far, that the use of experienced case/care managers is the most effective strategy.

High risks patients are managed with extreme care and caution and also staff for managing the high risk patients are different than a normal patient like doctor, nurse and other emergency staff

First, it's important to understand that the concept of "managing high-risk patients" may be well intended, and can still have equity flaws that should be considered. Identifying and labeling people as high-risk can involve bias and stereotypes and fail to consider upstream factors that impact health outcomes for certain demographic groups as persons with lower economic status and ethnic minorities. The framing itself can lead to and perpetuate disparities in care. A better framing may be how to improve involving people in the decision making process by considering their preferences, values, and goals when providing care, in order to facilitate more equitable care experiences and outcomes.