Another book, another physician author! Like my last review on pain, this one is directed at patients and their caregivers for improving their experience. Kilbourn Gordon III, M.D., an ER physician, wrote “Med School 101 for Patients,” as a step-by-step guide highlighting the importance of communication and information within the patient care experience. In other words, patient and/or self-advocacy and speaking up.
According to his guide, the patient must play a direct role in being comprehensively prepared when receiving an evaluation or treatment. Since visits can be limited to as little as 15 minutes, the patient preparation and involvement in the visit becomes paramount. Relying on his real-life interactions with patients and their styles, he guides readers in preparing for their doctor viits. He stresses that everything that happen during this session being important, including your preparedness, personal notes, questions and your expectations of your caregivers - starting with the doctor.
Since I have had my own experience in the delayed diagnosis of Guillian Barre Syndrome, I was truly delighted to see that he includes strategies for uncovering the correct diagnosis when no physician has been able to uncover the medical truth. Dr. Gordon encourages patients to become proactive participants in their own assessments and therapies. While it took me 8 months of fighting and proactive searching for an answer, and one more month until I could finally receive the needed treatment, it has unfortunately taken others years to get to the point where I find myself today.
Doctors are human and can be wrong! Yes, even the best and the brightest, like my neurologist with stroke expertise, can miss something important. Since it is the patient who suffers, or doesn't, it really is up to us to drive our destiny and not become victims of the healthcare delivery system. I've always believed that if you work hard, you can attain your goals. The goal of a proper diagnosis and the right treatment is no different!
If you read the book and have any remaining questions, leave a comment and I'll find a way to get you an answer!
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