YOU are Your own Best Advocate!

B'SD

3 Tishrei, 5779

It's a new year, ripe with fresh beginnings for everyone on the planet. 

But what if you need help to deal with some medical professional who doesn't seem to be meeting your needs or those of a loved one?

One of the things that many patients find 

hard to do 

is to speak up for themselves.

They're intimidated by the educations and uniforms of medical personnel, and even more intimidated by rude, rushed, and oblivious medical staff members. Some of them have too many patients to care for in a short amount of time, and with limited resources. THAT is the very reason, though, that a person needs to advocate for themselves in a medical setting and with a medical situation. 

You need to command 

the focused attention 

of the medical professionals 

who are supposed to 

care for your needs!

It's one thing to feel bewildered by everything that's going on and another to be additionally limited by medical care that seems to be missing in action. It makes a person even more scared to speak up, though they're panicking that something is going terribly wrong. 

They wonder what to do, "Speak up, or stay quiet and let the doctors, technicians, nurses and orderlies do their work?" The inner debate doesn't necessarily solve problems and it sure doesn't calm down worried people aka patients and their loved ones.

The truth is that you need to advocate for yourselves - especially when you sense that things are not proceeding in optimal fashion. 

The story below points out the necessity of "Self Advocacy." The irony of the  event was that two board-certified doctors, the parents of the sickly child, were being ignored, abused, and made frantic as their child's life was jeopardized by insufficient medical care. 

Read all about that in

How I Saved my Daughter from a Medical Error.

Hair-raising stuff. We seek out medical professionals to heal us or to minimize our medical problems. When they aren't prepared to do so, or resist the need to care for us appropriately, YOU have a call to action.

Learn what to do when you read the "YOU are your own best advocate" section in

Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill your mouth with helpful words, and your hands with pro-active behavior. SHOW the doctors, nurses and everyone else that section of the EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge book if necessary.

You Need to Continue Advocating for Yourself

B'SD

9 Av, 5777

This "Doctors too often fail to inform patients of a drug's possible side effects" Washington Post article holds information and suggestions worth noting, especially

"...Fugh-Berman said patients need to become their own experts, researching drugs on websites — such as the government database MedlinePlus — that are 'free of [the pharmaceutical] industry.'

Doctors have a responsibility to listen to their patients about side effects, too, she said.

'I tell medical students: If a patient develops a symptom after they’ve gone on their drug, it’s always the drug’s fault until proven otherwise,” said Fugh-Berman.'"



Click on the link to read the rest of the

 Doctors often don’t tell you 

about drug side effects, 

and that’s a problem.

Learn more about how to manage your medical life. Read the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill your medicine cabinet with safety.

Words to the Ever-Wiser: YOU are Your Own Best Medical Advocate!

B'SD

7 Tevet, 5777

Words to the Ever-Wiser: 

The other day my general practice doctor questioned why I'd requested a blood test for my hemoglobin and a few other blood chemistry levels following the unanticipated loss of blood during my hand surgery this month. 

I responded: "I used to be a medical coder. Anyone in that profession would know of the necessity to check blood levels following significant blood loss. Since follow-up surgery is scheduled in a few weeks from now, we need to know FAST that my body can safely endure it!"

He wrote the hall pass for the blood test after saying "Ah, you know what you're talking about."  I took it this morning as nurses carefully checked to fill each necessary vial with my red stuff. Hat tip to my dear friend and fantastic nurse, Terri , who reminded me to have the blood check done.

Life Lesson: Find out relevant facts about your medical situations and be proactive regarding your medical care. Doctors lack time to do much more than check boxes, patients and time slips. YOU are your own best advocate.

Read all about that in 

Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Fill your life with good decisions.

What Would YOU Like to Experience in a Patient Safety Culture?

B'SD

18 Adar, 5773

I'm still glowing with happiness from Purim. I helped to raise funds for a local charitable organization during the fun-filled day. Volunteers hit the streets with a particular T-shirt. I jazzed mine up a bit, as you can see.

On another topic, I wonder what YOU would respond if you were to answer the following question from a Help a Reporter Out (HARO) listserv (I removed relevant contact info so people don't bombard the message sender with unprofessional responses):

Biotech and Healthcare

1) Summary: Quantifying "soft" patient safety and hospital quality measures 

Name: Blanketyblank's Hospital Review

Category: Biotech and Healthcare 

Email: notyerbizness

Media Outlet: Blanketyblank's Hospital Review

Deadline: 5:00 PM CST - 1 March 

Query:

Many hospitals are focusing on creating patient safety cultures, engaging patients and improving quality. While clinical quality can be quantified according to different diseases and processes, how can the "softer" aspects of safety and quality, such as culture and patient engagement, be measured? How can hospitals quantify these aspects of care so they can determine their progress?

Okay, back to me, Yocheved: You just know how much you don't appreciate those awful patient gowns that let in every breeze or pair of eyes. And that tasteless hospital food? Rude doctors and technicians? What else needs to be improved? How?

Please share your recommendations for quality patient care and culture in the comments section below this blogpost.

I look forward to reasonable replies ;^ D

Buy the E-book or print edition today for your improved medical, mental health or disability care today!  

Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical  Challenge. 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism. 

Let's figure out this Quality Patient Care and Culture thing together!

 

Facing Pediatric Cancer Together

B'SD

16 Iyar 5771


I apologize for my absence from the blog lately. My schedule has been hectic.

Here's a marvelous presentation at the NY TIMES Wellness blog: Voices of Pediatric Cancer.

Note that one set of the parents who speak about their family's ordeal did something to help others facing it. Max's Ring of Fire is an advocacy organization doing what it can to speed up cures from cancer.

My heart is with parents facing such situations. Whatever else I've done this week pales in my appreciation for posting these resources for you.




Learn more about how to reduce your stress and medical expenses with E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Doctors & Patients Promoting Patient and Family-Centered Care Together

B'SD

5 Adar 2, 5771


When you consider that a doctor who caused an adverse medical reaction – complications, worsening illness or death – is usually abandoned by her/his colleagues and administrative staff – you are able to realize some of the horrific mental anguish piling on that person.

Knowing that your loved one suffered or died due to innocent mistakes, medical neglect, medical malpractice and/or even medical indifference, is a Living Hell.

Put both sides of the issue is one room dedicated to preventing similar disasters and you have a phenomenon.

Today I attended the debut SHEVET conference at Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tel Aviv. SHEVET is a non-profit foundation for people who want an active role in improving patient safety in Israel. The genuine effect of these nascent efforts, however, is already going global.

The SHEVET Foundation is dedicated to building a partnership between doctors and patients with the aim of safer health care, fewer mistakes in treatment and overall improved outcomes.

Policy makers, doctors and patient group representatives attended the conference. They invite patients and families of patients to join them to ensure open discussions in the developing future.

Today's launch-date conference included remarks by Margaret Murphy, a compelling guest from the World Health Organization (and the only participant to speak in English). Margaret founded the international Institute for Patient and Family-Centered Care and is a member of WHO's 'Patients for Patient Safety' initiative. Margaret has been honored for her pro-communication, pro-patient work affecting the entire medical world. Margaret's precious son, Kevin Murphy, died due to severe medical mismanagement. Margaret's adoring husband supports her international efforts to prevent grief for more people due to

Miscommunication

Condescending disregard
for nurse observations

and

Leaving patients plus
loved ones out of
the medical treatment plan.

Margaret's "Do Nothing About Me, Without Me" remarks received enthusiastic applause today. Her lilting Irish brogue was one of several international accents at the meeting as medical professionals and laypersons spoke of the need to end counterproductive medical practices.

I was charmed when she pronounced my name correctly on her first try ;^ D

When medical professionals and patients linger at the same emotionally powerful conference, sharing smiles and innovative ideas for improved healthcare, then the outcome can only improve patient care and medical careers.

EDITORS: Contact me to purchase my feature story about the ground-breaking event. Photos and interview remarks included.

If you have ideas and/or want to learn more about pro-patient advocacy, see www.shevet4patientsafety.org (the English-language version is at http://shevet4patientsafety.org/?lang=en)

If the above remarks excite you, you'll definitely like E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Buy it at Booklocker!

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.