How will Realistic Medicine help me?

Realistic Medicine is a way of caring for people. It puts patients and carers at the centre, so they help make decisions about their care.

When you get care based on Realistic Medicine it will be based on what is important to you:

• your healthcare team will see you as a whole person, not just your health problem
• your healthcare team will listen to you and understand what matters most to you
• you will be able to trust and connect with your healthcare team
• you can help make decisions about your health
• you will get information, advice and support that matches your needs and choices
• you will have help to understand your options for treatment or medicine.

This video explains more about Realistic Medicine.

Shared decision-making

Shared decision-making means that you can choose what works best for you with your healthcare team.
It is not just about the doctor deciding for your care. In Realistic Medicine, you and your healthcare team make decisions together.

You should:

• talk with your healthcare team about your choices in treatment and care
• ask what is good (benefits) and what is not so good (risks) about each choice.

These talks help you make the best decision for you.

This video shows more about how to make choices together.

Building a personalised approach to care 

Building a personalised approach to care means planning your care to fit what you need and helping you in the way that is best for you.

Your healthcare team should get to know you and what matters to you. Remember to share your “What matters to me?” notes.

We will listen to you and your family. We want to know what good things you hope will happen. We will work to build trust and help you feel better.

This video shows more about personalised care.

Managing risk better

Getting health care can sometimes have things that might go wrong (risks).

Talking with your healthcare team helps you learn about these risks.

Everyone feels differently about risks. It depends on what you believe and what is important to you.

That is why it is a good idea to talk your healthcare team:

• the good parts (the benefits)
• the bad parts (the risks).

This helps you choose what is best for you and feel happy with your healthcare plan.

This video explains more about managing risk better.

Reducing harm and waste

Some healthcare plans can have things that might go wrong. These are called risks.
It’s important to know the good parts (benefits) and the bad parts (risks).
You can choose a different treatment or decide to wait. Talking with your healthcare team helps you make the best choice for you.

This can help keep you safe and make you feel happy with your healthcare choices.
It also helps make sure nothing is wasted.

This video explains more about reducing harm and waste.

Being innovators and improvers

healthcare team always look for new and better ways to help people.
We work together and listen to you to understand what you need for your health and care.
We use new ideas and technology to make care better and easier for everyone.
This helps us give you the best help we can.

This video explains more about innovating and improving services.

Tackling unwarranted variation

Sometimes, people get treatments they do not need. This can be unsafe and waste things like time and money.
If we stop using treatments that are not needed, we can help people who really need care.
This makes sure everyone gets fair healthcare, no matter where they live or who they are.
Getting good information helps you choose what is right for you.
This helps make care better for everyone.

This video explains more about tackling unwarranted variation.

Value-based health and care 

Value-based health and care means changing how hospitals and healthcare team help people.
To keep helping people in the future, health services need to focus on what matters most to you.
This means giving care that helps you the most and making sure help goes where it makes a difference.

This video explains more about value-based health and care.