“Objectives” are general goals, which highlight what needs to be achieved, such as improving patient care or improving operational efficiency. These objectives are supported by “key results”, which are specific, measurable goals that indicate success in achieving those objectives. A SMART objective is one that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and of a fixed duration. SMART objectives provide the details of how a group or organization will achieve a goal.
Using SMART objectives as part of care coordination can establish a good relationship between the care manager or doctor and the patient. It improves communication and collaboration, while demonstrating self-management skills, such as goal setting. To keep your healthcare team aligned, set clear milestones and control points. These must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART).Milestones serve as tangible indicators of progress toward the common goal, providing motivation and a sense of accomplishment.
They also provide opportunities for the team to meet, review progress, and adjust strategies as needed. In addition to giving priority to the patient and taking into account health equity, the key theme of the event was to break out of silos and work together. Collaboration is particularly important when it comes to producing and working with high-quality data. By actively listening to each other, your team can understand the reasoning behind different viewpoints and work to achieve a commitment that aligns with the collective goal of improving patient care.
Talking about the patient's goals and values for their medical care outside of a medical crisis allows time to identify the way in which the patient understands their illness and to place it in the medical context, a process that allows doctors to offer recommendations and respond to questions and emotions in a non-emergency environment. For example, patients may value their independence and aim to remain in their own home until death. Ensuring that each team member understands their specific roles and how they contribute to collective objectives helps reduce operational redundancies and prevent service interruptions. In fact, most patients and caregivers are willing to talk about their goals and desires for care at EOL and trust their doctor to initiate the conversation. While the specific content addressed during conversations about the goals of care may change depending on the circumstances (annual visit, acute hospitalization, possibility of major intervention), the approach may be similar.
Values are the basis for how you approach the world and your health care decisions, while objectives are goals that you must try to achieve. While an acute episode or a change in health status are important times to discuss care goals, it's a much better time to review and confirm goals and preferences rather than broaching the topic for the first time. It's crucial that doctors feel comfortable addressing the goals of care. Conversations with patients are essential to align care delivery with patient preferences.
It's important to recognize that a person may not be able to achieve all of the goals, but understanding the patient's goals can help guide them in making the decisions that best fit those goals. Smart goals take into account the patient's wishes and turn general health objectives into concrete, clear and feasible goals. Physicians can help patients develop their care plans by setting SMART goals and using the plan to achieve them. To achieve such alignment, clinicians must be able to obtain and understand these goals, integrate them into the current medical context, and recommend the course of action that best aligns with those goals and desires.
Smart goals can improve patient morale as people take gradual steps and gain momentum to achieve expected health outcomes. Refocusing political attention on universal health coverage must be the common goal of all who care about equity in health care.
