Action plans help

Do you have an action plan?

When I ask this simple question the response usually tells me what their response will be to the rest of the visit. If they shake their head "yes" and describe what their plan will be I know that I have a patient who has been well trained and empowered to treat their own asthma. They usually ask informed questions and understand recommendations quickly. They are happy and almost always do well.

If they look puzzled and have no idea what I am talking about I know that I have a patient who has simply done what the doctor told them to do and does not have any experience managing their own disease. This patient will require a lot of education and may resist suggestions that there is a different way to manage their disease. Of course once they understand what an action plan is they often wonder why nobody gave them one before. "Do you mean that I didn't have to go to the ER all those times?"

Yes, the response to a simple question can tell me a lot.