We were happy to be featured yesterday in Comfort Keepers’ enewsletter with an informative article written by Lisa Gray, RN, one of our Health Advocates. Comfort Keepers is a great, local, non medical home care company that provides in-home services to seniors and others needing assistance. Jessica and her sister are two of the most caring individuals I know. They love their work and their clients and it shows!
It’s informative articles like these that help increase awareness of our emerging field. Health care advocacy has so many applications, and advocacy for seniors is another area that is in great demand. By creating a wide-ranging network of caregivers in the Bay Area, Comfort Keepers serves an important group in our society!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Advocate for Yourself!
Sometimes, you have to trust your gut instinct. Patti’s niece Nicole recently found out that obtaining a second opinion is not only smart, but necessary!
When visited her regular physician at Kaiser Permanente after injuring her knee, he listened to her explanation of a previous ACL replacement and meniscus tear, and after examining the knee, recommended the usual regimen for a potential meniscus tear; Advil, rest elevation, and so on.
But Nicole had already tried the elevate, rest, ice, rotation of treatment. She had been through knee injury before, and after a month of rest, she knew that the tried and true approach wasn’t helping. Nicole leads a very active life; she plays softball, coaches cheerleading, works fulltime and has three sons, all involved in different activities. She was ready to have an MRI done, to really know the extent of her injury.
Nicole had read that meniscus tears usually do not heal on their own and felt that an MRI would determine if a more aggressive treatment was necessary. But her Dr. resisted, which led to a few awkward silences in the exam room, after which she stated that she wanted a second opinion. He agreed, but the next appointment with the sports MD wasn’t for 2 ½ weeks.
Nicole’s next step was to go directly to Member Services, and unfortunately make a complaint. She was able to get an appointment a week later, and a more specific diagnosis after finally getting an MRI and final diagnosis of a new meniscus tear, she was able to receive treatment and recover more quickly.
Nicole is an informed patient, she had tried the first line treatment and knew the next logical step. By advocating for herself and seeking treatment in that she was satisfied with, Nicole received better care in the long run.
Her belief is that one must be a participant in their health care and her hope is that doctors will “listen “ to their patients, as often they know their body the best.
When visited her regular physician at Kaiser Permanente after injuring her knee, he listened to her explanation of a previous ACL replacement and meniscus tear, and after examining the knee, recommended the usual regimen for a potential meniscus tear; Advil, rest elevation, and so on.
But Nicole had already tried the elevate, rest, ice, rotation of treatment. She had been through knee injury before, and after a month of rest, she knew that the tried and true approach wasn’t helping. Nicole leads a very active life; she plays softball, coaches cheerleading, works fulltime and has three sons, all involved in different activities. She was ready to have an MRI done, to really know the extent of her injury.
Nicole had read that meniscus tears usually do not heal on their own and felt that an MRI would determine if a more aggressive treatment was necessary. But her Dr. resisted, which led to a few awkward silences in the exam room, after which she stated that she wanted a second opinion. He agreed, but the next appointment with the sports MD wasn’t for 2 ½ weeks.
Nicole’s next step was to go directly to Member Services, and unfortunately make a complaint. She was able to get an appointment a week later, and a more specific diagnosis after finally getting an MRI and final diagnosis of a new meniscus tear, she was able to receive treatment and recover more quickly.
Nicole is an informed patient, she had tried the first line treatment and knew the next logical step. By advocating for herself and seeking treatment in that she was satisfied with, Nicole received better care in the long run.
Her belief is that one must be a participant in their health care and her hope is that doctors will “listen “ to their patients, as often they know their body the best.
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