Anders Vege describes how asking ‘What matters to you?’ started in a small number of Norwegian health municipalities in 2014.
In 2014 we started two learning networks in Norway. We wanted to create better and more health-promoting pathways for the elderly and people with long term conditions. We had two interventions:
- Implementing a system approach based on a successful pathway pilot in Norway known as PATH (Patient Trajectory for Home-dwelling elders)
- Changing direction in healthcare, moving from asking “what’s the matter?” to “what matters to you?” This was inspired by my dear friend and mentor Maureen Bisognano.
The initial reactions to the interventions were inspiring. The pathways appealed to section heads and asking “what matters to you?” moved hearts. 10% of all Norwegian municipalities participated.
The improvement teams came to the second session of the learning networks with frustration. Making healthcare professionals ask “what matters to you?” was difficult. Healthcare professionals are educated and trained with small “what’s the matter?” questions and that gives us a picture of a diagnosis or lost functions. Flipping the question to “what matters to you?” is hard and requires training – so we asked the improvement teams if it would help to create a “What matters to you?” day.
That gave energy and creativity for a change of direction. In 2014 we had about 30 municipalities participating. We invited them to ask for free badges with ‘WMTY’ on them, and to share stories on our «gode pasientforløp» Facebook group. The message was clear: do whatever creates energy and build a new conversation with your patients and users. And so this amazing movement started. The number of participants has grown year by year in Norway. This year we have activity in more than half of the Norwegian healthcare system. And it’s all in the local hands of health professionals in municipalities and hospitals.
In the beginning a lot of healthcare professionals were afraid of asking. They said, “We cannot meet the needs they will put on our shoulders.” Time has shown this to be wrong. Just as in shared decision-making, the answer is often modest and about the need to be independent and being able to live at home as long as possible. That creates a climate for focusing on health promotion and training on everyday activities, to live at home as long as possible. This is why “What matters to you?” day matters so much. It opens our eyes for better health and better coping. Now some municipalities say, “In the beginning we were afraid of asking, and now we are afraid if we have not asked.”
The Health and Care Department leads the board for our program. We are so fortunate that our health minister, Bent Hoie, has promoted our WMTY day from the very beginning (pictured along with the former minister of elderly and public health, Aase Michaelsen). The program is organized by KS, the membership organization for municipalities, and The Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Kristin Tveitnes from KS does incredible work in communications for our program.
We in Norway wish you all a powerful and health promoting “What matters to you?” day.
~ Anders Vege, Head of Section for Quality Improvement, Norwegian Institute of Public Health