17 Tips For Patient Engagement
To kick off 2017 and new year of patient engagement and empowerment, we are showcasing 17 tips from patients, caregivers, and leaders throughout the industry. A special thanks to our partner, The Conference Forum and their Patients as Partners US program, for helping to obtain a few of these excellent testimonials. Their tips and advice are as follows.
1. Jack Aiello
“Patients and their care partners need to get educated about their disease and become their own best patient advocates. The internet can be a great resource where disease specialists create videos on topics from disease overview to treatments and side effects. And by getting 2nd and 3rd opinions from disease specialists, you put yourself in the best possible position to make good decisions with your doctor.”
2. Randy Broad
“One very important aspect of treatment, especially at the time of diagnosis, is to understand what treatment options your oncology team is recommending and why. Many providers have ‘pathways’ which determine how a specific cancer (and stage) be treated. Be sure to fully understand what’s behind and underneath this directive. Many times it can be determined based upon cost, not best options currently available.”
3. Matthew Zachary
“Patients have the right to survive with dignity and quality and we deserve to be treated age-appropriately. More so, they also have the right to be made aware of the relevant support resources they are entitled to so they can get busy living. This is what it means to face cancer.”
4. Cindy Chmielewski
“Knowledge is power. Educated patients are empowered. Educate yourself. Join a support community either in-person or online; follow the #mmsm hashtag on Twitter; subscribe to disease appropriate YouTube channels, listen to webcasts/podcasts presented by patient advocacy organizations and engage in meaningful discussions with your healthcare team.
Be a partner in your care. “
5. Jennifer Ahlstrom
“Don’t be afraid to speak up. Patients who ask their doctor questions, ask for explanations and treatment rationales get better outcomes. Myeloma is a very complicated disease and there are now an incredible number of treatment options available for patients. If you don’t feel comfortable asking your doctor questions, it’s time to find another doctor, preferably a myeloma specialist who treats hundreds of myeloma patients.”
6. Marie Ennis-O’Connor
“Becoming an empowered patient means taking personal responsibility for your health. You engage with health care providers and systems in ways that are proactive, rather than reactive. You take positive steps in the direction of the care that is right for you.”
7. Scott Riccio
“Remember that YOU get to define value for your own care. Nobody can read your mind, though, so you have to share what you value, how it impacts you, and what tradeoffs you are willing to make to get the outcomes YOU want.”
8. Andrew Schorr
“Ask your doctor questions! How can we be sure my diagnosis is 100% accurate? How much experience do you have treating this illness? Are there other tests that can help me get the most on-target treatment for my case? What are all the approved medicines for my situation? Why would you recommend one over another? What clinical trials could be right for me, whether or not you have them at this clinic/hospital?”
9. Esther Schorr
“As a care partner, it really is a time to be hopeful as the advances in cancer treatment are moving very, very fast. As it is for the patient you love, it is key to stay educated about advances in treatment options that might be right, and be actively involved in discussions about genetic testing and clinical trials. It’s also critical to lean on your personal community…friends, family, counselors…in order to “keep it in the road” and retain realistic optimism. As more and more survivors and care partners reach out to each other and share stories, we all gain insights and perspective – and you will hopefully feel supported along the cancer journey. We are all in it together, and we are here for each other.”
10. Amy Ohm
“Caregivers need self-care to effectively care for a loved one – always make sure to put on your oxygen mask first! It can be incredibly challenging to focus on ones health with the daily demands of care-giving. Make 2017 the year you assess your own health and strive to reduce daily stress. Connecting privately with those who relate and to share experience to learn from others can help. We want you to be health in the New Year!”
11. David Wallace
“It is imperative that you gain a solid understanding of your disease so you can become your own advocate. Connecting with other knowledgeable patients via social media or online forums to learn what has worked or failed to work for them is a good start. Understand the treatment options that are available to you. See an MPN specialist who will work with your local hematologist. If you are not being treated with care and respect, don’t hesitate to seek a 2nd opinion and change doctors until you receive the level of care you deserve.”
12. Carol Preston
“NEVER hesitate to ask questions. In fact, write down your questions in advance, take them with you to your appointment and go through them one by one. Be sure to write down the answers (or get your care partner to take notes) as a short pencil is far better than a long memory. Better yet, record the QA on your smart phone so that you can listen later to the answers as you’ll retain only about 10% of what the doc tells you during your appointment.”
13. T.J. Sharpe
“Patients and caregivers can be better engaged in 2017 by reaching out to their patient community and actively becoming involved in the support of fellow patients through person to person and group interaction. Patients and their caregivers can raise the bar for everyone involved in healthcare so that the expectations of patients as a partner in their care is not just accepted, but standard and demanded by patients.”
14. Marilyn Metcalf
“Set our goals together in the New Year, and then work together on our plans and make them happen.”
15. Durhane Wong-Rieger
“Patients are basically a heterogeneous lot, coming with all types of experiences and talents, as well as desires and needs. Some patients want to have a voice in high-level policy and system decision-making; some want to extend a personal hand of support. The more diverse the channels and opportunities for involvement, the more patients can take active and meaningful roles. Every person naturally wants to feel respected and empowered so it doesn’t take much to engage patients: provide a portal, support, information, acknowledgement and most important action.”
16. Deb Maskens
“Patients and caregivers get information from a wide variety of sources, from personal anecdote to television advertising to medical journals. Empowerment and engagement for patients and caregivers in 2017 needs to start by providing them with more information that is trusted, balanced, and objective. Information is power. Let’s give patients and caregivers the information they need as the first step for them to be empowered and engaged in treatment decisions that are right for them as individuals.”
17. Jeff Folloder
“Resource management. I’m not talking about managing the funds to pay for treatment or care. I’m talking about managing you. I got great advice from a lady in a waiting room at MD Anderson. She told me that every day we wake up with a bucket of energy that we can spend on anything we want and it’s gone at the end of the day. We can spend that energy on quality things and be tired and fulfilled. Or we can spend it on silly things like worry and regret and go to sleep tired and empty. She’s right. And I remember her words every day.”
