May 2nd, 2009 by Trisha Torrey
After a week of hearing that the sky is falling because swine flu was going to take us all down, there’s a lot of second guessing about whether government(s) and the media have over-hyped the potential for a pandemic, and whether we have all over-reacted to the fear.
I say – we have not overreacted – but I worry about Chicken Little.
The initial reports from Mexico indicated real potential for problems. Governments, WHO and the media were in a d*mned if they do and d*mned if they don’t position: Had they NOT reacted, then I guarantee you, the flu would have spread faster, further and more people would have died. Then they would have taken the hit for not reacting appropriately– like George Bush deservedly did for Katrina — and we would all be left behind cleaning up behind the mess.
So I believe the reaction and the hype, and the reminders about the impact seasonal flu has on all of us, are warranted. I, for one, appreciate it. Lives have been saved. Awareness has been heightened.
That said…
I actually have more concern about the next time around. Whatever virus mutates, whether it be bird flu, swine flu, or hippopotamus flu — no matter which one it is — will we all be (pardon the pun) immune to the hype? Will we ignore the governments and media who try to prepare us to keep us safe? Will we go about our daily business tuning them out? Will we turn a deaf ear because “remember swine flu? no big deal!”
Chicken Little (who may be carrying bird flu, by the way) reminded us that the sky CAN fall when we don’t pay attention. So the real point is that we need to be prepared with falling-sky contingency plans. That’s what WHO does. That’s what governments do. That’s what media reports.
We just need to be sure we pay attention and take action, regardless of how hype-y it seems to be.
April 25th, 2009 by Trisha Torrey
Note: Swine Flu FAQs updated daily
Plus: Should We Be Afraid of Swine Flu?
While the professionals provide us with statistics about Mexico, Texas, California or other places where patients have contracted swine flu, I actually find I have different questions all together:
- I don’t live in Mexico. Am I at risk for getting swine flu?
- Will my seasonal flu shot protect me?
- I’ve never met a pig in person and don’t expect I’ll meet one anytime soon. Should I be worried about getting flu from a pig?
- And what about my favorite Sunday breakfast – bacon and eggs?
So I went in search of the answers, believing that if I have those questions, you might too. So I put them together in an article along with their answers: Swine Flu FAQs
And as for breakfast? Very crispy please.
April 19th, 2009 by Trisha Torrey
Many of you, my readers, have had complaints about the healthcare system, including the relationship you have (or don’t have) with a doctor. And I hear you — I’ve had bad experiences with some doctors, too.
But that begs the question — do doctors have complaints about patients, too?
Of course they do! I asked, and received input from more than three dozen healthcare professionals. I learned:
Ha! Opened the floodgates, I did. You’ll be amazed at some of the stories.
Since then, I’ve come across this question from KevinMD - and commentary by one of his responders that suggests that rather than fire his patients, he just makes them so miserable that they choose to leave him. (find comment from MANALIVE)
Have you been frustrated by a meeting with your doctor? Have you received a letter telling you the doctor will no longer work with you?
I invite you to share your story, too — and to discover whether you fit one of those patient profiles that doctors really just don’t want to work with.
April 11th, 2009 by Trisha Torrey
It’s a simple question, but it has stirred some controversy. It’s the word “friendly.”
Colleague and fellow passionate advocate Bart Windrum got (as my mother would say) his blood in a bubble after reading an article about engaging a patient advocate to help you navigate your healthcare, recently published in a Tampa newspaper.
In a list of tips about how to advocate for someone else, one tip said, “In hospitals ask, in a friendly way, that every pill, every injection, ….”
Bart thinks that’s ridiculous. He believes “friendly” comes across as “Beg. Acquiesce. Place yourself beneath again, some more.”
Bart is an author of Notes from the Waiting Room. He knows what he is talking about. Bart suggests we be business-like. I agree.
Business-like may be a term lost on some who don’t operate in a business environment. So I call it commanding respect. To gain respect, which is so necessary in any medical setting, you must command it. You earn it by your actions and approach.
(Please note — that does not say “demand respect” — I believe that is impossible in any medical setting unless the other person fears you — another post for another day.)
How will you command that respect? By being diplomatic and concise. Start with polite. Let them know you have specific expectations and want accurate information. Earn / command the respect of those who can get you what you (your patient) needs. If you don’t get the information or action you need in a fair amount of time (some actions require seconds or minutes, others can wait a half hour) then become assertive. Never, ever become aggressive unless it is life and death and you are being ignored.
Here’s an example I got from Charles Inlander, a gentleman who was advocating for patients before most realized they needed it. He was in the hospital, and needed a nurse’s help in the middle of the night. He pushed the call button a number of times and got no response. (Does THAT sound familiar!) So finally he picked up the hospital phone, dialed “O” to get the operator, asked for the nurses’ station on his floor, told the person who answered what need needed, and seconds later the nurse showed up in his room. (I love these kinds of ideas!)
What’s your experience? Have you advocated for a loved one in a hospital? Did “friendly” work when you actually needed something? Or did you find yourself having to be more definite and concise?
Did you command respect?
