In this assignment we were asked to take a photo representing a patient’s perception of something within our health system. My thought was to illustrate the gap that can occur in a person’s life, when terms unexpectedly change. For example, when illness or a severe injury results in dramatic changes and los of function. Regaining control of life after serious disease or damage will be a major challenge for most people.
In a rehabilitation process, both the health professional and the patient will work towards taking back the control, setting new goals and perhaps finding a new meaning in a life going in an entirely unanticipated direction.
I wanted the picture to symbolize a patient’s point of view in a rehabilitation process after an incident like this, and the unsecure path towards building a «bridge» over a gap, finding ways to adjust to new conditions.
The Norwegian healthcare system
Before writing about how the rehabilitation process in Norway works, I will give a brief presentation of the Norwegian healthcare system.
Our system is built on the principle of that all inhabitants, regardless of social status, financial situation, ethnic background, age or gender, have the right to equal access to health service (Worlds Health Organization).
A welfare state is a term often used about Norway, and this refers to the state’s and authority’s responsibility for ensuring certain fundamental good for the people. This including healthcare, education, economical support and social security if you somehow are prevented from working (New in Norway). One of the goals of the welfare society is equalization of society´s resources. This also includes that healthcare affordable for all inhabitans.
Rehabilitation and user involvement
There is a long tradition of provision of rehabilitation care in Norway. Which involves both medical and non-medical treatment of lost function, a comprehensive cooperation between several different sectors and areas of care. Rehabilitation is about improving a person’s functional and coping ability, but also it is a lot about facilitating for self-efficacy, self-reliance and participation in daily life and in society (Normann, Sandvin & Thommesen, 2016, s.42). In this process there are often many ways to go, and patients have different conditions, needs and desires. Rehabilitation is a planned process where several providers cooperate (Ringard, Sagan, Sperre Saunes & Lindahl, 2013, p. 109). In Norway, at the start of a rehabilitation process, a personal coordinator puts an individual plan together for the specific patient. The purpose of this is to carefully adapt the treatment. Patient involvement is strongly emphasized in the making of this plan. So that the plan is put up aiming for a goal meaningful for the person it is made for.
The patient’s right to involvement and participation in his or her own rehabilitation process is pointed out in the Parliaments rapport nr. 21 from 1998 (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health). It is also a statutory right and is therefore not something the service provider can choose to relate to or not (Health Directorate, 2017).
User involvement also means that the user/ patient is considered an equal partner in thoughts, discussions and decisions regarding his or her problem. The patients influence on the situation might affect the patient’s self-image in a positive way and be helpful in terms strengthened empowerment and increased motivation (Health Directorate, 2017).
The Patient’s Perspective
I feel that fully understanding another person’s point of view isn’t always easy. Not in matters of this assignment, interpreting another’s perception on the health system and treatment. And not when it comes to understanding what’s important to a patient in treatment. Rehabilitation must be based on the individual patient’s condition. Thus, seeing this person’s reality and point of view is central. But the “patient’s perspective” can easily become something someone else holds on behalf of the patient (very influenced by one’s own understanding of the situation), instead of an actual perspective from his or her point of view. I find it to be difficult sometimes to see the difference.
Rehabilitation is supposed to be about individuals, realization of individual goals and about cooperation and coordination.
The thought behind this system of rehabilitation is truly good. I still have little experience with how it works in real life, and I have an impression that it`s some variations depending on where you are in the country.
In my opinion understanding the patients perspective and including the patient is important factors in this process. It’s a matter of giving the patient power, which I think is very important to design a good individual plan, facilitate for self-efficacy and self-reliance so that the patient is involved in building his or her own bridge towards their goal. In that sense I think this picture could represent a patient’s point of view in a rehabilitation process.
Sourses:
Health
Directorate, 2017, october 17th. Retrieved from:
https://helsedirektoratet.no/folkehelse/psykisk-helse-og-rus/brukermedvirkning
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (1998). Raport nr. 21. Retrieved from: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/stmeld-nr-21-1998-99-/id431037/8
New In Norway.
Retrieved from:
www.nyinorge.no/en/Familiegjenforening/New-in-Norway/About-Norway/History/A-welfare-state/
Normann, T., Sandvinn , J,T. & Thommesen, H. (2016). Om rehabilitering; Helhetlig, koordinert og individuelt tilpasset. Oslo: kommuneforlaget AS
Ringard Å, Sagan A, Sperre Saunes I, Lindahl AK. Norway: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2013; 15(8): 1– 162. Retrieved from:
www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/237204/HiT-Norway.pdf?ua=1 Worlds Health
Organization. Retrieved from:
www.euro.who.int/en/countries/norway p�
