When Structuring Care Processes, Don't Forget the Nudges

​The realities of human behavior persist no matter the advancements in medical care, say the authors of a January 18, 2018, article published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors still must be aware of the options they can offer to patients, and patients still have to accept and adhere to treatment. There is room for improvement, the authors suggest, in the way options for patients are presented to healthcare providers, a concept referred to as "choice architecture." Using choice architecture to provide suggestions of care, or "nudges," can help physicians provide better care in both simple and complex decision paths.