I was surprised to learn recently that a large percentage of patients are “passive spectators” of their own healthcare. Passive patients rely on their doctor’s experience and knowledge. As a result, they “sit back” and let the experience happen to them. Why is this important? Because your health can suffer if you don’t engage in […]
Archive | Communicating with Your Healthcare Team
The Importance of Shared Decision Making
Whether you are dealing with a new medical condition, or one that is progressing, it is important to take the lead role in your medical team. Historically, a doctor would tell you your diagnosis and course of treatment, and you would do your best to follow the doctor’s orders. Fortunately, times have changed, and most […]
It’s Important to Be Honest with Your Doctors
Everybody is guilty of a few white lies now and then. Telling your aunt that you love her new haircut is a good deed. And telling your host you love the chicken is the right thing to do, even when it tastes odd. In fact, these little lies help make the world a little bit […]
The Pros and Cons of Telemedicine
Telemedicine is all over the news right now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has dramatically increased its use. But even before this outbreak, telemedicine filled a need for many patients, including those who were geographically isolated, too sick to travel, or without transportation. There are countless other reasons that make traveling to the doctor […]
Understanding Medical Information Is Harder Than Most Realize
“You don’t know what you don’t know.” It might be a tired adage, but it really applies to navigating the medical world. Certainly, you need to understand health information for the best chance of a good outcome. But understanding medical information is harder than most realize. One’s ability to understand health information is formally called […]
Electronic Health Records Add to Doctors’ Stress
It has become a common sight – doctors with their laptops or tablets, conversing with patients while navigating through EHRs (Electronic Health Records), searching and typing. Does the widespread use of Electronic Health Records add to doctors’ stress? EHRs have certainly impacted the type of interactions we have with our doctors. Do EHRs make it […]
Electronic Health Records Problems
We’re all accustomed to seeing our doctors use their computer or tablet during appointments and in the hospital since electronic health records (EHRs) are widely used. Is this a good development? Is the information in EHRs accurate? Do EHRs add to doctor stress, potentially impacting care? Although there are clear advantages of EHRs, there are […]
Is There Gender Bias in Medicine?
As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, men and women are not treated equally. According to the ACLU, “ongoing struggles include ensuring equal economic opportunities, educational equity, and an end to gender-based violence.” But did you know that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed? Or that women may not receive the most effective […]
10 Tips to Communicate Better with Doctors
How you communicate with your doctor impacts your health. It can even make a difference between life and death. But having a conversation with your doctor is often hard. Your doctor may use medical terms you can’t understand. And with time-squeezed appointments, doctors often rush and/or interrupt patients. On top of all this, when you’re […]
The Benefits of Participating in Hospital Rounds
I’ve been shouting this message from my rooftop for years – patients who communicate effectively and actively engage in their care have better outcomes and a reduced risk of medical errors. However, for hospitalized patients, this can be tricky. Ideally, doctors would include patients and/or family members in their daily “rounds” conversations. But, not all […]