Patients! Stop Being Patient.
Ever wondered why a patient is called a 'Patient'? There is a reason a person seeking medical help is called a Patient. ‘Patient’ comes from the Latin “patiens,” from “patior,” to suffer or bear. They are supposed to be truly passive—bearing whatever suffering is necessary and tolerating patiently the interventions of the outside expert.
Looking at the current state of healthcare, there is no better word to describe what sick people experience when they need medical help. In getting healthcare everywhere you go, you need to be extremely patient. There is a long wait time to get clinic visit appointments, especially with a specialist. Then there is a wait time at the doctor’s office. Finally, when you get to meet with your doctor, you have to behave patiently and not ask too many questions since your doctor often seems rushed.
In a way, 'patient' is a perfect word to describe vulnerable people looking for medical help.
Sarcasm aside, the last thing a patient should be is to remain patient, while their health is being discussed and managed. Health care ecosystem is full of administrative jargon and complexities. At the core of healthcare delivery sit the providers, who are overburdened, often burnt out, and under intense pressure from payors and their administrators. In such a complex chaotic system, if a patient chooses to remain passive believing in the old doctrine that doctors know the best; they may not be getting the best care despite their well-intentioned and qualified healthcare providers.
In today's healthcare, it is extremely critical that patients become active in their care management. The old paternalistic model of care is no longer a healthy one where the doctor takes the lead in deciding what is good for patients and prescribes what they think is best. While today's physicians are doing their best to serve their patients, on top of their clinical work, they are overly busy with non-clinical administrative work and often required to see more patients. That is the reason, why physicians are always in a hurry.
Being an active participant in our care management improves both, the quality and cost of care.
An open discussion between the physician and patient builds trust. When patients trust their physicians, compliance increases and as a result, outcomes improve.
The other reason for building engagement with the physicians is to educate them about your specific medical conditions and other treatment options available. Though physicians are well-read, given the pace of innovation and new information, your physician may not be aware of everything that is happening in the space. Sharing your research and resources with the physician and then collectively deciding the best course of next steps can be very empowering for patients.
There are a lot of discussions for patients to think like a consumer when seeking healthcare, however, a patient who is experiencing a medical condition cannot fully act like a consumer. They have to trust their physician and nurses. The best thing patients can do is to become an active member of their care team.
We may be called Patients, however, we should NOT be patient, when it comes to managing our health. As part of the care team, we must ask questions, educate the care team with our research, share our concerns and when needed, challenge them to seek a second opinion.
After all, who can be a better advocate for your own health than you?