Prerequisites of the healthcare provider
Healthcare providers (HCPs) must meet the four prerequisites of being competent, happy, caring, and possessing a strong resolve to achieve. Tracking of these prerequisites may facilitate optimal outcomes regarding individual patient and population health. Additionally, it is clear that there is not always one decision-maker in healthcare. Although it is team-based at the policy level, it is preferably in many situations to share decision-making with patients at the patient level. However, the meta-decision process is shared among the team at for the former and is in the HCP’s mind for the latter. Therefore, a HCP who is competent, caring, and having good will is paramount. The first prerequisite, although difficult to measure, is represented in multiple areas of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s six competencies: medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, communication skills, practice-based improvement, and practice-based learning. 44 Competent HCPs make the right choices to drive practice progress in the right direction. Secondly, care is primarily an attitude that can be demonstrated by a good conscience, humanistic qualities, and altruism. Carelessness commonly describes low performing HCPs who are not motivated to help their patients. One challenge is that attitudes and emotions are not easily measured, so assessments are based on actions. The third prerequisite is to be strong-willed and well-intentioned is key for effective HCPs, independent of the levels of caring or competency. Willingness to change, having a positive attitude, having initiative, and being among initial adopters are the characteristics of high-performing organizations and HCPs. However, the assessment of this prerequisite is likewise difficult and not clearly reported. The fourth prerequisite suggested is part of the “Quadruple Aim” by Bodenheimer,45 aimed at improving the work life of HCPs.46 Happy and satisfied HCPs promote wellness and resist burnout, resulting in better and safer care quality for individuals and the population.