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Shared decision making and self-management support: tools for empowering individuals to manage their health.

Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. For years, the health care system has tried to encourage and empower people to not only participate in, but also direct, their care and treatment. Although this mindset is preferable to the paternalistic models of the past, in which people followed, sometimes unquestioningly, the decisions made by health care professionals, a shift in thinking around empowerment is not suffi cient. Individuals need in-depth, specialized knowledge about their chronic conditions and other life-altering health issues before they can make informed decisions. In primary and specialty care settings, information and empowerment are being taken to the next level by providing a variety of tools for people with chronic conditions or who are dealing with the sudden onset of a disease such as cancer. Delivery of these tools—often, online resources and other consumer/patient information—is typically the responsibility of the professional case manager, preferably one who is board-certifi ed. Through these tools and resources, the professional case manager facilitates two key approaches: shared decision making and self-management support .