“Empowering people as they travel together toward best health” is how Danny van Leeuwen describes his mission, which he pursues through many channels: representing the patient/caregiver voice on task forces for various groups, including the federal government; speaking to audiences across the healthcare landscape; as well as blogging and, most recently, podcasting about managing healthcare […]
I recently attended a lecture by a high school English teacher on the topic of empowerment. She shared the results of an experiment she had done in her classroom where she tried to improve her students’ care and storage of notebook computers used during class. She described engaging her students by sharing with them how […]
Editor’s Note: This week, Engaging Patients revisits a post by Jan Oldenburg, editor of Participatory Healthcare: A Person-Centered Approach to Healthcare Transformation. Jan interviewed 27 patients and caregivers whose stories are featured in the book. In this post, she highlights themes that emerged from the interviews and reflects on the central role patient stories can play […]
For years this blog has been discussing the value and legitimacy of engaging patients as a path to better care. Yet we don’t see a stampede of people—providers or patients—rushing to do it. Why not? I’ve been advocating for participatory medicine for years, more than 500 events in 15 countries. Through that experience, I’ve observed […]
Emotional well-being is not easy to measure, especially when compared to an improvement in blood sugar or blood pressure. Yet, I’m struck by how often patients use the adjective calm when describing health situations, explaining why they like their provider’s demeanor or wishing there was respite in a crisis. Calm need not connote ignorance, avoidance […]
Editor’s note: In February, Dr. Graffigna presented an evidence-based model for patient health engagement. In this contribution, she offers concrete guidelines for integrating new communication technologies into the care process to more effectively engage patients. . Making patient active and engaged in their healthcare is the gold standard in the 21st century health policy and […]
My surgeon and I are discussing his planned use of sutures. He is standing, leaning against a wall. I am opposite him, lying on a gurney in a hospital gown, the IV taped to my hand dripping antibiotics as the clock ticks down to when I’ll be wheeled into the operating room. This may not […]
Worldwide, patient engagement is becoming a “must do” for academics, industries and policy makers in the healthcare arena. The academic and managerial “buzz” on patient engagement is growing at a dizzying pace. In 2015, 665,300 new web indices were found on Google.com with the key words “patient engagement,” including 1,230 news pages and 6,200 dedicated […]
When it comes to engaging with consumers – with patients – through and with technology, the healthcare industry has room for improvement as compared to other industries. Consumers interact with technology across most other aspects of their lives every single day, from banking, to buying almost any consumer good imaginable, to watching or listening to […]
By the year 2020, over 157 million people will have chronic diseases and will be seeking medical care1. When you add this to the fact that there is a shortage of primary care providers, healthcare coaches become an integral part of population health. I am a pharmacist with a burning passion to empower patients. I […]