Shared expertise

This is what we will be doing over the course of the next 50 minutes:

Get an introduction to the term Shared Expertise.

Share lessons from everyday life.

Discuss improvements.

Decide what we are going to practise in everyday life.

This is the second course occasion of the partnership module. We will get a chance to delve into what is meant by shared expertise and share what we have learned with the group. We also have to agree on changes to start working with in our professional practice. 

Utilising each other’s expertise is an important part of the partnership with the patient.

Shared expertise involves utilising the patient’s expertise about themselves and their situation as well as the professionals’ expertise in diagnostics, healthcare, treatment and rehabilitation. The partnership builds on the ability to share information with each other and to make decisions together on the basis of this information.

Professionals are able to diagnose an illness and are also able to describe how it usually develops and which treatment has proved most effective. However, it is the patient who experiences the symptoms and the treatment and how it actually affects them and their relatives. It is the patient who knows what they require in order to be able to live the life they want to live.

It is not unusual for patients to feel subordinate when coming into contact with the health and social care system. In order to avoid this and achieve a partnership, we must first give the patient confidence in us. We can build confidence with the aid of non-verbal communication, for example how we look at someone, touch someone, our body language and the tone of voice we use. But of course, the choice of words also matters a great deal – that what we say is comprehensible and clear. It also builds confidence when we ask questions and show that the patient’s experience and wishes are important.

Everyone is different. Some patients know a lot about their illness while others do not know anything about what is happening to them right now or what they can expect to happen in the future. Some individuals find it easy to express themselves. Others find it near to impossible due to cognitive and linguistic difficulties. And there are some that do not want to share at all. The objective is to understand what each patient is able to do and wants to do in order to adapt how we approach them. When we work in a person-centred way, we must also try to understand the wishes of someone who is unable to communicate.

In health and social care there are different prerequisites for building confidence and utilising the patient’s expertise. Professionals must find various ways of establishing a partnership. However, one prerequisite is that the team works together closely and shares knowledge and understanding of the patient between themselves. 

During the last meeting we each choose one situation in which we would practise utilising the patient’s own expertise. We focussed on the following assertion:

A. Shared Expertise

The patient’s health is seen as the collective responsibility of the patient and the professionals and we utilise each other’s expertise.

---

Instructions

• Everyone in the group talks about what they thought worked well and what worked less well.
• Those who are listening make notes if there is something that is particularly interesting.
• Divide the time so that everyone is given equal time to talk.

Start timer

We are now going discuss how we together can become better at utilising both the patient’s and our own expertise. What can we start doing differently?

---

Instructions

• Agree on 3-5 changes that could make a difference. They should be as tangible as possible.
• Write on blue Post-It notes and place on the square on the situation map called Change Plan Partnership.

Start timer

We shall now focus on assertion B under partnership. You are to individually choose one of our situations and think about what you could do differently considering this assertion in the chosen situation.

B. The Agreement

Patient and professionals have together arrived at how health and social care shall function and what the goals are for the patient’s health. 

---

Instructions

• Choose a situation in which you think you can make a difference.
• Think about what you can do differently and practise.
• Reflect individually in silence,
• Make notes on Post-Its if necessary.

Start timer

Tell the others which situation you have chosen to practise ahead of the next meeting and what you intend to do differently.

---

Instructions

• Divide the time so that everyone has a chance to talk during the six minutes.
• Write down the situation you have chosen and what you are to practise so that you remember.

Start timer

We now conclude the meeting and the next step is to go out and try new ways of working. Focus on the situation you have chosen yourself but be open to changing other situations as well. Ask someone else in the group for help if you get stuck or are low in energy. Perhaps someone else in the group has good advice. Why not ask patients for help?

Try to note down what works well and whether there are any questions or problems.

The next time we meet we will tell each other about our experiences.

Good luck!