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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Add a Comment21 Comments
You are so right, Michelle! Doctors have been on their pedestal for so long, they can get very defensive when someone has the nerve to simply ask a question or wants to have a conversation about a treatement or medication. Although most of us don't have medical degrees, we DO have something the doctors don't. We have been living in our bodies for 20, 30, 40, 50+ years! Although we may not know the name of a condition or perhaps can't even accurately describe what's wrong, we KNOW when something just isn't working. Men & women have to remember that although we aren't experts on a specific illness or disease, we are the very best experts on our own bodies.
July 29, 2011 - 11:21amThis Comment
This is what happens when patients feel 'empowered' and don't listen to what their doctor says:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4821352.ece
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMR_vaccine_controversy#Disease_outbreaks
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5733a1.htm
But by all means please don't listen to your doctor.
May 10, 2010 - 5:54amThis Comment
Doctors have the earned credibility to diagnose. Most 'medical' websites don't. There are thousands of diseases present, many sharing a lot of common symptoms; the average non MD graduate, could not conclusively diagnose themselves just by Googling their symptoms. Googling for it can give you an idea about what to expect. But thinking that you know better than your doctor because you read a few articles online is just arrogant and ignorant. Let the Doctors do their job, they are the professionals and have studied and trained long and hard to deserve the respect of trusting their diagnosis.
A better advice would be for people to research their diagnosis after their doctors appointment or simply, get a second opinion.
Love and respect to all the honest and dedicated medical practitioners!
May 6, 2010 - 10:11amThis Comment
Whether you like it or not, the doctors HAVE been to medical school and DO know more than you, no matter what research you do on the internet. A few minutes of googling symptoms is not anywhere NEAR equal to years of rigorous medical education.
April 24, 2010 - 11:37amThis Comment
I definitely 100% agree with this... as a future healthcare practitioner (student physical therapist) and a chronic back pain patient who has undergone to back surgeries... I understand the importance of empowering patients. I was lucky because I have access to a plethora of information, especially clinical trials. In my future career, I plan to empower my patients to question their doctors and learn as much as they can about their diagnosis/pathology. If patients do not feel they readily have access to this information, then I'd be more than happy to provide them with it.
April 7, 2010 - 4:24pmThis Comment
Interesting Topic. I feel as though, their is a reason why their are many different types of providers and well as personalities. If you enjoy doing your research, and asking a bunch of questions, then you need to find a doctor that is acceptable to this. Many doctors are overworked and underpaid, therefore, an extra five minutes with a patient might mean 2 or three less patients that get seen. Please don't blame the doctors. Just find one that appreciates answering all questions. Some questions are a waste of time for Doctors. Find a Doctor that is willing to do that.
April 7, 2010 - 11:07amThis Comment
PAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPLY. IT CAME AT A TIME, WHEN I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE
March 24, 2010 - 9:19pmENJOYED MY POSTS, OR IF - YUK--THAT SOUND REALLY SELF-SERVING ----. WHAT I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT
I ENJOYED YOUR COMMENT VERY MUCH, AND I WILL INVESTIGATE THE ONLINE SERVICES. ONCE AGAIN YOU
HAVE GAINED AND ENTRY INTO MY EVER INCREASING JOURNAL I AM KEEPING. I HAVE A VISITOR, THEREFORE
I WILL SIGN OFF AND SAY MORE AT A LATER TIME. SINCERELY, LIONESS111
This Comment
Michelle, I just the past few weeks went through an experience along these very line. I now intend to
March 23, 2010 - 6:16pmget copies of all my tests and procedures. I am also making a portable chart which I can take with to
whatever Specialist or M>D.. It includes a detailed history of all past & present health problems. All past
surguries, a complete list of all current medications, and has a section for questions to ask, and a section for
taking notes at appointments. I believe in everything you wrote and I intend to let as many others as
possible know & learn how to better manage their healthcare. Of course, I will also recommend that they
join EmpowHer!! It has been such a blessing tol me. I value all of you!!!!Sincerely, Lioness111
This Comment
Thank you Lioness. We appreciate your comments and all that you have been sharing with others on the site. It's good to hear you're pulling all of your medical records together and keeping them with you. There are also several online services now for maintaining your medical information such as Google Health Records, Microsoft HealthVault, RevolutionHealth Health Record and WebMd Personal Health Record. There are also some Medicare versions now being tested in various states with the goal of eventually having a national online personal health record system for all Medicare patients. This can be a lot of work to set up so it may not be the ideal solution for everyone. There's more information here:
March 23, 2010 - 6:27pmhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/health/18patient.html
Take care, Pat
This Comment
This is really stupid, as a patient you should trust your doctor instead of trying to argue with him. Many years of medical training is NOT the same as googleing your symptoms and being convinced you are right. I hate sites like this one.
March 22, 2010 - 7:01amThis Comment