Visions Of The Future Of Heath Care: On The Road To Positive Change
A Great, Positive Change is Coming. 
The many people who work in health care believe we can do a better job of empowering patients as partners in their own health care. We are now on that road.
What an exciting thought!
This is why so many of them came together at the 3rd Annual Patient Care Experience conference. It was filled with physicians and other health care and hospital professionals who want to create a much better system for their patients. It was so inspiring to see these people who will represent the first wave of change.
Their commitment was strong; their words inspiring. Their vision focused on one thing: empowering patients as equal partners in their own health care.
Change is Always Frightening.
The human psyche does not like change. It prefers the usual, the comfortable, the familiar. Perhaps this is why, for so many years, patients have not wanted to rock the boat with their health care professionals and specialists or they felt they did not deserve a voice in their own treatment. They felt they were not knowledgeable enough to participate.
As well, previous generations have grown up with the philosophy that the doctor should remain unquestioned. Once, we would never have dreamed even to ask about our treatment protocol or our prescriptions. It was unheard of.
At the conference it was very clear that health care professionals no longer want this type of system, either. They appreciate patients who are prepared; who have done their research; who do not hesitate to ask why a treatment is prescribed, and what results they might expect. Doctors, nurses and other clinicians now feel they have a much better chance of success if they partner with their patients.
The tide is changing. It may take awhile, but its coming. And it will only change with your voice. Nothing will get better if we dont speak up: to our doctors, our surgeons, our hospital personnel, our politicians. Ask questions; as many as you need to fully understand your condition and proposed treatment. Remember, you should be an equal partner with your health care team. Your opinion, your history are valuable and should be respected as such.
If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him … We need not wait to see what others do. – Gandhi
