All you need to know about Health Outcome Survey

Improving or maintaining physical health:

• How would you rate your current health status?
• Does your health limit you from:
• Performing minor activities like walking
• Climbing several stairs
• How much did pain interfere with your work in the past two weeks?

Tips

You should ask questions if they suffered from physical pain. If they answer yes, follow it up with how it is affecting their ability to complete a normal physical activity that they do in their daily lives.

Identify ways to improve pain management so that your patient can achieve their recovery goal.

You can counsel them on physical therapy or rehab if required. Also, determine if your patient should consult with a pain specialist to achieve better health benefits.

Improving or maintain mental health:

• In the last two week did you feel downhearted as a result of emotional problems?
• Have you faced issues in doing activities that you usually enjoy due to emotional stress?
• How much did your emotional stress/problems interfere with your social activities?

Tips

Empathizing with the patients can make them comfortable to talk about their mental health.

You can discuss with them about going for therapy if required.

If they don’t want mental health counseling, offer other ideas such as: socialize, engage more with family, own a pet, volunteer work, meditation, etc.

Also, consider a hearing test. Loss of hearing can give a sense of isolation.

Monitoring physical activity:

• In the last 6 months, did your doctor or care provider give you a new regimen for exercise or physical activity?

Tips

Offer patients suggestions for physical activity based on their capability.

A survey cannot provide you many insights about a patient’s activity level. So, discuss with them what physical activity they engage in and talk about the health benefits.

For a patient with limited mobility, suggest they learn less strenuous yet effective exercises.

Improving bladder control for older adults:

• Have you had trouble controlling your urine in the past six months?
• When have you experienced trouble holding your urine during walking, exercise?
• Do you feel pain when you urinate?
• Is there any change in color, smell, or volume?

Tips

The topic may be personal and people may not feel comfortable discussing it. However, you must communicate professionally and inform them that it is common as we grow old. Inform them of the treatments that can help with the issue.

You can also provide them with a brochure to make them comfortable about the sensitive topic before discussing it.

Reducing the risk of falling

• Have you had trouble keeping balance while walking?
• Did you fall in the past six months?
• Has your care provider given you any suggestions to treat your issues with balance or walking?

Tips

Review the medication and treatments given to the patients to check if any of that increases the chance of falling.

Suggest physical therapy and balance activities like yoga. Also, suggest patients use a walker or cane if required.

Discuss home safety and suggest installing handrails.