THE PATIENT JOURNEY

THE PATIENT JOURNEY

(European Journal of Human Genetics : “ Patient Journeys” : improving care by patient involvement https://www.nature.com/articles/s41431-019-0555-6)

Rare Skin Disorders are gathered together in the European Reference Network-Skin. Those disorders have multiple common points: late diagnosis, none or few treatments, difficulties facing other people’s gaze, etc. The burden those difficulties represent is not always known by healthcare professionals. The Patient Journey is too often an Assault Course.

In order to help healthcare professionals better understand that burden, better manage it and thus give patients a better quality of life, patients must, themselves, evaluate their journey and make it known.

This is why patient representatives in all ERNs will circulate an evaluation grid to all patients.  This « Patient Journey » grid gathers together the different stages that are inherent to each disease. Then each stage is described in 3 levels : Clinical presentation, challenges and needs identified by the patient, goals to improve care. The grids are then reviewed by both patients and professional experts.

Finally, this grid of the “Patient Journey” will allow patients to discuss their individual needs with only one aim : to improve care and quality of life. The “Patient Journey” will also be an important element in sharing knowledge from both patient’s and healthcare professional’s points of view.