medical decision making – The AdvoConnection Directory of Private, Independent, Professional Patient Advocates

Busting the Cure Balloon and Finding a Workable Solution

“The cure cannot come soon enough.”

As someone who works in healthcare, and who speaks to patients and their loved ones every day, this is a statement I hear frequently. Whether we’re talking about someone’s cancer diagnosis, or Alzheimer’s Disease, or ALS, or MS, or diabetes… it seems to be everyone’s hope – that a cure is on the horizon.

When my father was alive, and in his 24th year after his prostate cancer diagnosis, he lamented the fact that he had ...

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24
JUN

1

diagnosis and misdiagnosis, follow the money, health care and cost management, medical decision making

Ac-cen-tu-ate – the Negative?

Posted by: AdvoConnection

It’s time to take a trip with the Way-Back Machine to a song many of us heard when we were kids – because our parents played it on the radio or record player. We all sang along!

With lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and sung by Ella Fitzgerald (that’s Ella in the photo above), the song “Ac-cen-tu-ate the Positive” became popular in the mid-1940s, with its very (yes) positive message of how we should focus our lives.. on ...

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30
MAY

0

diagnosis and misdiagnosis, doctor communication, follow the money, medical decision making, patient communication

“When I’m Sixty-Four” and If I’m Alone….

Posted by: AdvoConnection

Back in 2004, I was between husbands, and in my early 50s. As silly as that may sound (“between husbands”), the truth was, I spent 18 years with that status, between divorce and remarriage… and I was alone.

“Alone” is the key to today’s post.

Back in 2004, I was also diagnosed with a rare and terminal lymphoma. Yes – terminal – and yet here I am writing about it in 2019. You can read the story in ...

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25
MAR

0

eldercare, health care and cost management, medical decision making, patient communication, types of patient advocates, working with advocates and care managers

The Folly of Driving to the ER

Posted by: AdvoConnection

Hugh, a gentleman of about 68 years, lived alone. Hugh wasn’t feeling well. It was just a general feeling that something – who knows what? – just wasn’t right.

After a short while, Hugh walked over to see Phil, his next door neighbor. Phil agreed to drive Hugh to the Emergency Room.

It took them about 30 minutes to get there. Hugh signed in, and together he and Phil sat down in the waiting room. Within 15 minutes, Hugh keeled over, out ...

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12
SEP

2

diagnosis and misdiagnosis, hospital care, medical decision making, patient communication, patient safety

Black Box Warnings May Save Your Life

Posted by: AdvoConnection

This often comes as a major surprise for patients: that when a prescription drug is known to be effective, and is approved by the FDA for some patients, that doesn’t mean it’s effective and safe for all patients.

It’s true that some people may be allergic, or the drug might have been prescribed to treat the wrong diagnosis, or the patient may not take the drug properly and over (or under) dose….

…But those situations are not what I’m addressing in this ...

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23
FEB

0

doctor communication, follow the money, health care and cost management, medical decision making, patient safety, the government and health care

FDA black box

No Diagnosis? It May Not Matter

Posted by: AdvoConnection

Years ago I watched a movie called Serendipity. It starred Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. It was a “romcom” – and adorable – and it occurs to me that it sets the stage for today’s post.

The story was about two young people who met in Bloomingdales while shopping, and through a series of events, they were attracted to each other, but never exchanged names. They then lost track of each other. Over the years they continued to ...

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23
JAN

0

diagnosis and misdiagnosis, follow the money, health care and cost management, medical bills, medical decision making, patient safety

OK, But What’s the Question?

Posted by: AdvoConnection

In my previous life as a speaker and writer on patient empowerment issues, I received email, even postal mail (meaning, yes, someone paid for a stamp!) from patients who were being challenged in some way by the healthcare system. Sometimes I would hear from 8 or 10 people in a week, 25, 30 or more a month.

Their stories were often sickening and terrifying. At the least they were frustrating to read (even more so to live through, I’m sure) and ...

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19
OCT

0

doctor communication, health care and cost management, medical decision making, patient communication

manage expectations

Aging and Alone? Who Will Hold Your Hand Through Healthcare?

Posted by: AdvoConnection

There are many names now being used to describe those of the baby-boomer generation who are aging and alone. “Elder Orphans” or “Solo Seniors” are two of them; describing the concept of someone who is older and has no family or younger friends to help them in time of medical crisis (or any other life-assisting event like moving, or shifting financial needs.)

Who can help them make end-of-life decisions?
Who can make decisions for them if they get sick?
Who can help them ...

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5
SEP

0

health care and cost management, hospital care, medical decision making, patient communication, working with advocates and care managers

elder orphan, solo senior

Those Elusive Test Results

Posted by: AdvoConnection

I’m not sure how it happened, but over the years, my medical appointments and tests all seem to have ended up as summer scheduled dates.

You know – all those annual or periodic things: bloodwork, mammogram, bone density, dentist, optometrist…. I also check in with the dermatologist once a year (because I was that fair-skinned, freckled kid who, as a teenager, slathered on the baby oil at the pool – remember those days?) And this year was, oh joy of joys ...

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28
AUG

0

doctor communication, health care and cost management, medical decision making, patient communication

Yes, Sometimes the Doctor IS Wrong

Posted by: AdvoConnection

This topic is very personal. In fact, over the years I have been affected by PTSD (post traumatic stress) because of it. But because it’s so personal, I may be the best person to share this lesson with you.

My name is Trisha Torrey. 13 years ago this week, I found a lump on my torso, about the size of a golf ball. A surgeon removed it, it was sent off to the pathology lab for diagnosis, and two weeks later, ...

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24
JUN

0

diagnosis and misdiagnosis, doctor communication, health care and cost management, medical decision making