News
23/05/2023
In France, patient-centered care lies at the core of the healthcare system, emphasizing personalized attention, comprehensive consultations, and ongoing support. The French medical experience is characterized by strong doctor-patient relationships, thorough care provision, and patient feedback mechanisms that contribute to a patient-centric approach. Establishing strong doctor-patient relationships One of the cornerstones of the French medical experience is the establishment of strong doctor-patient relationships. Trust, empathy, and effective communication between doctors and patients are emphasized, creating a foundation of mutual understanding and collaboration. Doctors in France take the time to listen to patients, ensuring they have a comprehensive understanding of their medical history, concerns, and goals. This collaborative approach to decision-making takes into account patients' preferences and values, fostering a sense of shared decision-making and empowering patients in their healthcare journey. Continuity of care is highly valued, with patients often seeing the same doctor over time, allowing for a deeper understanding of their individual needs. Thorough consultations and comprehensive care In France, thorough consultations are the norm, with doctors dedicating ample time to each patient. These consultations go beyond addressing immediate concerns, allowing doctors to delve into patients' medical histories and perform comprehensive assessments. The goal is to provide holistic care that encompasses preventive measures, early detection of conditions, and tailored treatment plans. By involving specialists and multidisciplinary teams, France ensures that patients receive well-rounded and integrated care. Coordinated and follow-up care France places great importance on coordinated care to ensure seamless and integrated services. Healthcare professionals work collaboratively to provide coordinated care, ensuring that patients receive appropriate referrals, treatments, and ongoing support. The continuity of care is reinforced through regular follow-up appointments and post-treatment monitoring, allowing doctors to track patients' progress and make any necessary adjustments to their care plans. General practitioners often serve as the coordinators of care, overseeing the overall treatment journey and ensuring that all aspects of patients' healthcare needs are addressed. Patient education and empowerment Patient education is a fundamental aspect of the French medical experience. Patients are provided with the knowledge and tools to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. Through educational materials, workshops, and digital platforms, individuals are empowered to make informed choices about their health. France promotes self-management and healthy lifestyle practices, recognizing the importance of patient engagement in achieving optimal outcomes. Patient feedback mechanisms and continuous improvement France places value on gathering patient feedback to continually improve the quality of care and enhance the patient experience. Patient satisfaction surveys, patient advisory committees, and online platforms for reviews and ratings are among the mechanisms in place to gather insights and perspectives. This feedback is used to drive quality improvement efforts and shape healthcare delivery to better meet patients' needs. By actively involving patients in shaping the healthcare system, France ensures a patient-centric approach that evolves with changing expectations and requirements. Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity France is committed to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in healthcare. Efforts are made to accommodate diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultural practices to ensure equitable access to care. Initiatives aimed at reducing healthcare disparities and improving health outcomes among marginalized communities are prioritized. By fostering an inclusive environment, France strives to provide healthcare that respects and embraces individual differences. Promoting patient rights and privacy France has a strong legal framework in place to safeguard patient rights, privacy, and confidentiality. Informed consent procedures ensure that patients have a clear understanding of their treatments and procedures, and patients have control over their medical information. Patient advocacy groups play an important role in safeguarding patient rights and fostering transparency in healthcare, advocating for the protection of patient privacy and ensuring that patients' voices are heard. In summary The French medical experience is characterized by patient-centered care, emphasizing strong doctor-patient relationships, thorough consultations, comprehensive care, patient education, and continuous improvement. The commitment to prioritizing patients' needs and empowering them to actively participate in their healthcare journey contributes to a positive and impactful medical experience in France. Through collaborative decision-making, personalized attention, and a holistic approach to healthcare, France strives to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care tailored to their individual needs. By actively incorporating patient feedback, promoting cultural sensitivity, protecting patient rights, and fostering inclusivity, the French healthcare system continues to evolve, setting a standard for patient-centered care worldwide. *image by ian kelsall from Pixabay
05/10/2021
Pain medicines produced from cannabis oil have the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients, a French study has found. According to the initial results from a trial that began in a French hospital back in March, using medical cannabis for pain relief is effective. Psychiatrist Dr Nicolas Authier, Chair of the Scientific Committee on Medical Cannabis, is in charge of the experiment being conducted at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand in central France. Dr Authier picked 20 suitable patients for participation in the trial. One patient, Mounir, 47, who suffered a stroke aged 21 and consequently struggled with painkiller addiction in an attempt to manage his neuropathic pain, told France 3: “I'm not yet completely relieved of the pain. There is some still, but it is nothing like what I felt before.” The trial is part of a two-year nationwide experiment in France that is primarily designed to evaluate the best conditions of access to medical cannabis. Depending on the patient and their condition, medical cannabis can deliver mild to significant relief. However, some patients have experienced no improvement, while others experienced more undesirable effects than therapeutic ones. Dr Authier hopes that medical cannabis can be legalized for patients whose suffering is poorly relieved by conventional treatments. Image by Julia Teichmann from Pixabay
15/10/2015
The French health and foreign ministries will work together to promote medical tourism across the country and open up the world-class French healthcare system to foreigners by cutting the red tape that has so often got in the way in the past. To inject some much-needed funds into the French economy, the government wants to attract high-end clientele who speak English and want concierge services as well as competitively-priced, high quality medical care, according to the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ). It comes off the back of a government report that highlighted the attraction of France as a medical tourism destination due to its reputation as one of the world’s best tourist destinations and its excellent healthcare facilities. The report estimates that medical tourism could provide the country with a €2 billion economic boost by 2020 and create some 30,000 employment opportunities in the process. A medical tourism taskforce has been created and tasked with making serious progress on the country’s medical tourism ambitions by the end of this year. François Madelmont, head of consultancy SPH Conseil and coordinator of the new medical tourism task force, said: “It is a cultural revolution. Many hospitals are eager to be on the list and to take in more foreign patients. Some already do it discretely, others advertise and make it part of their strategy.” France Surgery is also mentioned in the IMTJ piece and our co-founder Carine Hilaire is quoted as saying: “Foreigners see the French system as an excellent but very exclusive club."