Why is it important to empower patients? PEN Program Manager Joelys Gonzalez discusses her methods for empowering patients, holistic approach to care, and the impact of patient empowerment on health outcomes. 

Related Resources:

Dr. Akriti Jain: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

Dr. Brad Kahl: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

Dr. Cynthia Thomson: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

Transcript:

Joelys Gonzalez:

Empowering patients is central to my work as a social worker. For me, this means providing patients with the knowledge, the tools, the confidence they need to actively participate in their own care and actually advocate for the best healthcare that they can possibly obtain. And this could be by educating them about their diagnosis, treatment options, or what to expect during and after treatment. This can help reduce the fear and anxiety, allowing them to make informed decisions.

I also focus on promoting self-advocacy, encouraging the patients to communicate their needs and their preference, not to stay quiet, and just make sure that their words are being heard, to make sure that they are having the best access to the resources as well that can support them during their overall health. And I believe that this holistic approach in addressing not just the physical, but also the emotional, social, and psychological aspect of care ensures that patients are not just surviving cancer, but they are thriving. Empowering patients is super important to me, because it just restores that sense of control of what can be a super overwhelming situation.

Being able to have that control from day one, it’s super important, because it makes you part of your own treatment, of your own cancer journey. And from day one, cancer can take away a lot of it. But by empowering patients, we can help them regain their autonomy and their dignity. Empowered patients are often more engaged in their care, which leads to better outcomes and to lead to better communication with their healthcare team. And ultimately, the goal about this is to help patients feel supported, informed, and confident as they are navigating their journey, knowing that they are actively participating in their own care and making sure that they are engaged in the shared decision-making with their healthcare team is super important.