How to Make and Use a Medical Management Plan
Living with a chronic (long-term) illness means ongoing care, adjustment, and adaptation. A well thought-out management plan helps you take control, stay well, and reduce complications.
Here’s what goes into a good medical management plan.
1. Begin with a collaborative discussion
Start with your GP, hospital specialist, nurse or multidisciplinary team (MDT). Whichever you go to, they should:
- Ask what matters to you (your life, priorities).
- Assess your current understanding, confidence and skills for self-management.
This helps you identify realistic goals and priorities.
2. Educate yourself and build skills
You may be offered a self-management education (SME) programme (group or individual) that teaches you about your condition, symptom management, problem solving, decision making.
Also, health coaching (a structured support approach) is becoming more embedded in NHS care. If no one tells you how to learn more about your condition, ask your doctor, or do your own research.
MyHSN has many articles on different conditions that may be of use, or consult NHS.co.uk
3. Write a plan with your doctor or nurse
With your doctor or nurse, document:
- Goals (short, medium, long).
- Action steps with responsibilities (you, doctor, others).
- Monitoring tasks, frequency, thresholds for asking for help.
- Contacts, supports.
Top Tip. You will need to ask for a double (20 min) or even triple (30 min) appointment. Ask at GP reception or your consultant’s secretary. Arrive with your written plan (no more than one page of A4).
4. Plan for flare-ups
Chronic conditions fluctuate. They get better, and worse. A good plan anticipates flare-ups:
- Pre-decide how to scale back activity (or adjust doses).
- Use pacing strategies (especially in conditions like chronic pain).
- Use relaxation, stress reduction, rest, cooling/warming treatments, and contact your doctor or nurse if needed.
5. Review and revise plan
- Go to regular follow-ups (e.g. every 3–6 months or as advised); asking for face-to-face appointments, especially if you are unwell and think may need to be examined.
- Revisit goals as circumstances change.
- Add or remove strategies based on what works.
Challenges & Top Tips
- Health literacy: Don’t hesitate to ask simpler explanations (“please can you explain that again”), visuals or guides. It is important for you to understand, and it is your doctors’s job to make sure you do.
- Motivation & behaviour change: Use small, incremental steps. Celebrate successes.
- Support network: Involve family, friends, peer groups.
- Coordination of care: With multiple specialists or services, ensure your plan is aligned and shared. Remember GP, hospital and pharmacy computers are not linked up. You may need to make sure each is updated with information about you.
- Flexibility: Life changes (work, travel, stress) will require adjustments to the plan.
Benefits of a Good Management Plan
A good management plan means better symptom control and fewer complications, including reduced hospital admissions and emergency visits.
Many patients also report an improved quality of life, autonomy and confidence; and everyone can benefit from more efficient use of NHS resources through prevention and self-care
