Why Should Patients Spend Time Engaging?

Why Should Patients Spend Time Engaging?

Being a patient is a journey filled with challenges, uncertainties and hopes. As a patient advocate, I've seen first-hand the difference it makes when patients are actively involved in their own care and the development of the healthcare system. But why should patients spend time on engagement? And why is it just as important that healthcare professionals understand the value of this involvement?

A Raw Patient's Perspective

When you're a patient, it can feel like you're just a small cog in a big machine. Decisions are often made over your head and it can be hard to understand how your voice can make a difference. But here's the thing: your voice is important and your experience is invaluable.

I remember the first time I was asked to participate in a feedback session about my treatment. I was sceptical and felt that my insights would hardly change anything. But I was wrong. My experiences and suggestions were taken seriously and I saw directly how my input led to concrete improvements in the treatment process. It gave me a sense of empowerment and a deeper understanding that as a patient I have an important role to play.

Why Patient Voices are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Patients live with the consequences of decisions made by healthcare professionals every day. Therefore, they have a unique and important insight into what works and what doesn't. When patients are involved:

1. Authenticity in Decision Making: Patients bring an authentic understanding of illness and treatment. Their experiences can reveal problem areas and possible solutions that would otherwise be overlooked.
2. Better Outcomes: When patients feel heard and involved, they are more likely to follow treatment plans and take an active role in their own care. This can lead to better health outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
3. Innovative Solutions: Patients often come up with creative and practical suggestions for improvement. Their daily experiences give them a perspective that healthcare professionals may not have.
4. You Don't Know What You Don't Know: Healthcare professionals must recognise that they can't know everything. Patients' experiences and input can reveal hidden problems and solutions that professionals haven't thought of. That's why it's crucial to ask patients directly about their experiences and suggestions.

The role of healthcare professionals in patient engagement

For healthcare professionals, it is essential to understand that patient engagement is not just about listening, but also about acting. It requires a cultural shift where the patient's voice becomes an integral part of the decision-making process. When healthcare professionals recognise and value patient input, it creates a more effective and empathetic healthcare system.

1. Strengthened Relationships: Through active patient engagement, a stronger relationship of trust is built between patients and healthcare professionals. This leads to better communication and collaboration.
2. Increased Efficiency: By integrating patient feedback and suggestions, the healthcare system can become more efficient and targeted, benefiting both patients and healthcare professionals.
3. Error Prevention: Patient input can help prevent errors and misunderstandings in the treatment process, improving patient safety.

Conclusion.

As a patient advocate, I see it as my most important task to promote patient engagement. Patient voices are not only valuable, they are essential to a healthy and well-functioning healthcare system. By taking the time to listen to and learn from patients, together we can create healthcare that not only treats diseases, but also empowers and supports those living with them.

So why should patients spend time engaging? Because their knowledge, experiences and voices are worth their weight in gold. And it's time for all of us, patients and healthcare professionals alike, to start treating them as such. Remember, you don't know what you don't know - so ask us patients.

?? Read more to about my article here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/lisbeth-oxholm-snede/recent-activity/articles/

// Lisbeth