Learning

Since I started my work, 25 years ago, my focus has never shifted. It has always been one of continual learning, analysis and the sharing of any acquired knowledge that has proven to be of value in getting good health outcomes. This led to the development of learning resources to support both professional practitioners and members of the public, all of whom share the same striving - to better understand what works from a patient outcome perspective.

In more recent years we are seeing major shifts in healthcare brought about by the escalating incidence of chronic disease matched by the decline in available funds which is starting to impact the provision of healthcare in both the public and private systems. We are seeing new demands where those who underwrite the costs of care are encouraging patients to play a greater role in managing their own condition (or carers, those of their dependencies) and making policies to shift health care from high cost hospitals into the community or home. Against this backcloth there is even greater relevance for empowering patients to take greater control of their journey.

We have seen consumers rise to the challenge with the emergence of collaborative groups that are often based around a specific chronic disease where they share their knowledge and experience via on line discussion groups. The National Health Service in the UK discovered through trials that patients who acquired some very basic skills for self management reduced their visits to GPs by over 35% and hosptial visits by 33%.

However, the collective experience of "what works" is still lacking, and consumers with a chronic condition often have to rely on and then try what others say has worked for them. It's not unusual even for practitioners of the same modality to give different treatments for the same problem, where they have to rely on their own experience rather than drawing upon a broader collective experience. This can make it costly and time-consuming for the patient.

The learning modules I provide, which range from an informal approach through to the structure certificated professional packages, all centre around the key principles of helping you to generate the knowledge of what is pertinent or applicable to your healing journey which leads to a greater capacity for informed decision making and better health outcomes. It has also made possible for me to begin to create a platform where we can collect and share the evidence of what works.

To date, my students and patients have cherished this opportunity which has allowed them to transform the vast amount of information and opinion out there into a "knowledge" that they can act upon to get better clinical outcomes in health, for themselves, their families or their patients.

My students tend to be proactive and thirsty for knowledge; they have a willingness to research and to learn and a desire to share that knowledge; they also strive to find a way forward in today's health environment that often inhibits the enquiring mind and informed decision making.

Once you embark upon this journey and make your first purchase you will be invited to join our online community of people and practitioners who share the same aspirations and values  and who can offer much inspiration. You will also have access to an evolving number of free resources and the opportunity to post your own experiences and learnings on the member blog site for others to share.

Kathryn Alexander