Perhaps the most fundamental principle of “patient-centered care” is for clinicians to understand the patient’s perspective regarding key aspects of a care episode. Here’s a real life example that just happened to my wife and I...
We all play many roles in life .... spouse, employee, sibling, parent, friend, customer, and so on. Each of these roles brings with it its' own unique set of expectations (self-imposed as well as externally imposed - can you say spouse) for how we are supposed to...
Readers of Mind the Gap, I apologize for my absence in recent months. As you will see from my latest post, I have been away with my wife as she is dealing with a serious recurrence of her lung cancer. Our recent experiences continue to underscore the need for...
One more benefit: If a physician tries to explain to the patient how the medicine works and why it’s safe & effective, they may challenge themselves to decide if THEY really believe it! I have had several docs try to explain to me why I should take antipsychotic medication (indefinitely, mind you) simply because the latest anti-depressant has not solved all my problems. The answers have been somewhere between “mystical” and “faith-based.”
Then, ask yourself one last question: Would you give this to your own children? Or your mother? Would you take it yourself, and if so under what circumstances?
If you can pass these two tests, then carry on persuading.