Here I am in another doctor’s office, trying again with a new specialist.
The clipboard is extended to me for completion; inside I roll my eyes. Why don’t they just review MyChart? It’s the same health system and it took six months to get the appointment. Why do I need to revisit every surgery, pain, moment of crisis again? I am depleted before even seeing the doctor.
When the doctor does arrive, I recite my symptoms. The doctor makes a likely diagnosis based on those symptoms, prescribes medicine or perhaps orders tests, and moves on to the next patient while I exit the door feeling empty, unseen and doubting that there will be any relief.
In such a situation, it’s easy to feel that your concerns weren’t heard or that what is bothering you wasn’t explored to the extent it should have been.
And sometimes that might be the case. One study found that the average visit to a primary care physician lasts 18 minutes, and that in some but not all cases, shorter visits led to inappropriate prescriptions. I’m not bashing our healthcare providers; they are doing their best under difficult conditions.
What I did in that office — sad, voiceless, leaving with yet another prescription for the morning pill gag — is not the answer. We all need to realize that we must be the curators of our wellness, taking an active role rather than a passive one, as so many patients have in the past.
The Problem with Passive Healthcare
Often, the medical profession focuses too much on symptoms rather than exploring the underlying causes. Oh, this is what is bothering you, so we will prescribe you this medicine. But that may or may not be what you need. With a little digging providers can move past the symptoms to the core issues impacting their patients.
Let me offer a personal example of the importance of curating your healthcare journey. I often get blood clots, but receiving proper care in many cases turns into a battle. This is because in the past, the standard for understanding and treating blood clots was based on studies of middle-aged white men. As a Black woman, if I didn’t take an active role in my treatment, I could have been in serious trouble.
Why? Blood clot studies have now looked at African-Americans specifically and determined that Black people have up to a 60% greater chance of developing blood clots than whites. In addition, the process for treating African-Americans for blood clots is entirely different, which makes it frustrating for me to go to the hospital and feel that I am forced to fight for treatment, explaining to them which medicines I need. I am prepared with my history and list of antibiotics that work; my husband has that same list in his wallet just in case. For me this is life and death. But it is just as important to speak up in the office visit no matter how mentally and physically drained you are.
Unfortunately, it’s not that unusual for standard healthcare protocols to overlook the needs of women and minorities, which means it’s dangerous to be complacent. Yet, as patients, it’s easy for us to fall under the spell of the system’s hierarchy. We are the patients and see the medical personnel as experts. The inclination is to accept what they say. They must know what they are talking about, we think.
However, those who work in healthcare can be wrong at times or less attentive than they should be if they have a long line of other patients they must see. So, it falls to us to make sure they aren’t just addressing symptoms but rather the underlying causes of whatever ails us.
Being Prepared
I’ve made a commitment to be the curator of my wellness; no more passive doctor visits. If I can fight in the ER for proper care then I can do so with my trusted providers. As I prepare to take on the role of curator of my own wellness, I will come prepared and present. This is to be a lifelong journey, not something that can be dispensed with in a single visit. I am an active participant in my wellness. I am going to battle prepared:
- I will track my symptoms: Frequency, duration and triggers
- I will have a list of overcounter meds used for relief
- I will develop a list of questions to ask my provider
- I will run some AI questions to get insights of possibilities and conversation points
This is my life and I will be intentional about every aspect of my wellness — no excuses.
And along those lines, I am happy to report that just recently I had a much better experience during a medical appointment.
Although I endured the same, horrible clipboard routine, the provider came in prepared. She knew my history. She listened attentively to my symptoms and acknowledged my distress and that I had done my research.
She showed me a short educational video to explain the course of treatment that I would be going through. She was present. She gave me hope by being engaged. We both addressed the core problem and came out with a winning solution.
This is what results when you own your wellness story. Today I have hope and a plan of action.
How AI Can Empower Your Wellness Journey
But one problem the average person has is that they lack the knowledge needed to advocate for themselves properly. Even when they research symptoms or a condition, they may struggle to grasp what they are reading, especially if the information is filled with technical terms.
Artificial intelligence can come into play here. You can use AI to curate your care and help you understand which medical studies might relate to you and your health. With AI’s assistance, you can better understand medical syndromes or conditions that affect you and your family members. You can learn about the symptoms and whether a particular condition might be hereditary and, therefore, something you are more likely to experience.
This doesn’t mean you allow AI to run the show. Most of us have seen news reports about or experienced personally how AI can make mistakes.
But, with that caveat in mind, think of AI as a partner who can help you come up with topics and questions to bring to your next doctor’s visit so you don’t show up empty-handed. For example, you could prompt AI in this manner: “What questions should I ask my doctor about [condition] based on my [age/background/etc.]?”
This will make those conversations between you and your doctor more purposeful and constructive. You will have specific concerns you want addressed as a result of your research. You may raise issues the doctor would not have discussed with you otherwise.
The rushed visit can become more intentional and meaningful.
Remember, a more informed you is a healthier you.