Patient Empowerment in Medicine - An Idea Whose Time Has Definitely Come
It wasn’t too long ago that getting sick meant going to the doctor, listening to your physician tell you what was wrong with you, and then obediently taking your prescription to the pharmacy to be filled. For anyone to even think about questioning the “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” advice was just unheard of. The doctors went to medical school and know everything, and we as patients didn’t need to educate ourselves about our own bodies or question their diagnoses, right?
Of course, the answer to that question is a really loud “Wrong!!!” Nowadays it’s pretty common for people to head to their appointments armed with books or printouts about their symptoms and for patients to even suggest other treatment choices and/or really want to discuss their options with their doctors.
In other words, patients are beginning to feel empowered. Of course here at this website I’ve added an “H” and made it “EmpowHered,” because my focus is mostly on women advocating for and educating themselves about their health, but it’s definitely something that both men and women can and should be doing.
Other ways that we can empower ourselves as patients is to make sure we have all information necessary before deciding on what procedures and/or medications we will have. It would be nice to not feel rushed by our doctors when at all possible.
This got me to thinking…even though more and more of us are empowering ourselves when we become sick, are there any doctor’s offices or hospitals or treatment centers that also believe in this practice? In other words, should you become ill and go in for an appointment, could you find a physician who is ready and willing to discuss your treatment and educate you about everything you need to know?
A quick Googling of “patient empowerment” brought up a long list of websites that are devoted to this topic. Several are actual medical facilities that practice this everyday with their clients.
The National Brain Aneurysm Center in Minnesota has a page on their website devoted to this topic: www.brainaneurysmcenter.org/aneurysm_patient_empowerment.php
So does the Cancer Treatment Centers of America website: www.cancercenter.com/about-us/philosophy.cfm
And The Kidney Cancer Association had some good information too on the topic: www.kidneycancer.org/knowledge/live/patient-empowerment They are not a treatment facility but as a national organization dedicated to helping people with kidney cancer it’s great that they believe in patient empowerment.
I was so happy to see that so many websites, organizations and facilities are thinking about patient empowerment. I really do believe that if we can maintain some control over our own health and what is happening to us, it will really help us feel better and probably heal faster too when faced with a major health challenge. Being told “you have cancer” or “you have heart disease” can shake you to the very core and make you feel like all control is gone. But patient empowerment can help get it back.
What are some of the ways you’ve empowered yourself? Has your doctor been open to your questions and suggestions about your care?
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Empowerment is a big concept, and one that not all embrace as easiliy as others. that said, we believe in the power of women together to support and encourage each other to become our own best health and wellness advocates. Women are not only consumers, but caregivers, working women and (like Michelle) community leaders. It seems as though regardless of education, that we're dumbfounded when we go to the doctor's office, wanting everything to be just fine. We forget the questions, we take "no" for an answer, and we get discouraged by the limitations of modern medicine. And those limitations are real.
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I believe it is always important to ask questions. But I also think that it is both arrogant and ignorant to think that by typing the name of your treatment options into google you are qualified to enter into a debate with someone who has had at least 5 years of medical training. Informed consent can be taken so far, with the weighing up of risks that you are more or less willing to take, but in the end you are 5 years of training lesser than the doctor you are dealing with. You will not find a doctor who will purposefully treat you ineffectually. Nor is it easy to find one who make careless and dangerous mistakes regularly.
My experience has been that most health care providers will diagnose you with something appropriate for what they know how to do. When you walk into a clinic, you choose the type of care you're going to get. So it's critically important to choose your provider intelligently. Many thanks to everyone at empowher.com for helping us make informed choices.
Hi Michelle - Your comments rang in my ears today as I experienced a frustrating meeting with a healthcare practitioner. It's been six weeks since I was diagnosed with a chronic form of leukemia, and in that time I've marshaled an incredible range of resources for education and support, including the wonderful team at EmpowHer. It means so much to not have to take these journeys alone.
As just one example, today was the first time anyone in this medical group provided any support resources, and what they advised was that I visit a specific website for information. They're about six weeks late. I first visited the site the day after diagnosis because that's when it was most needed. The website has provided access to resources including an international webcast with one of the top specialists in my form of leukemia, invaluable drug therapy management tips from other patients, inspiring success stories from those who've come before me, and more. I've also used information from the site to develop blog topics that have helped educate others.
Fortunately, I learned a long time ago that you have to find healthcare practitioners who welcome a partnership if you want to optimize your health, and I have an appointment tomorrow with a physician who "gets" it, welcomes my questions and works with me.
It can be a hassle to change doctors and to go through the process of vetting your caregivers. When your health is at stake, however, the hassles are a small price to pay to obtain practitioners who believe in patient empowerment.
Thanks again, Michelle, for taking this stand and educating others.
Take good care,
Pat
Thank you Michelle for a great article.
You must be an active member of your healthcare team. I go the extra mile to educate myself about my health issues so that I can speak intelligently and readily understand the terminology the doctors use. I also go the extra mile to research any procedure or health issue so that I am well aware of the benefits and dangers. I am not afraid to ask questions. I come to every appointment with my questions typed and copies of any new labs/tests for all of my doctors. I keep a health notebook and detailed records so that I can answer any question.
My old doctor told me to become an expert on any condition I had to protect myself, because doctors can't know everything. It has been the best medical advice I ever received.
Reta