Patient empowerment an outgrowth of:

The women's health movement

The natural health movement

The open data movement 

The growth of the Internet

Idea:

The relationship between Dr. and patient is transformed

from paternalistic one to a cooperative one 

Patients: 

–Take on the responsibility of their own healthcare

–Learn how to find out reliable healthcare information 

–Communicate responsibly and frankly with their care provider 

–Be willing to employ preventive strategies 

–Follow through with agreed-upon treatments 

–Familiarize themselves with the insurance and financial aspects of medical care 

–Give responsible feedback to physicians, hospitals or payors when things are not going well

–Share information with other patients and participate in research if applicable 

Examples: Preparing for appointments, pursuing second opinions, questioning test results, asking questions, reading your insurance manual, fighting an insurance claim, searching on the National Library of Medicine on the Internet, participating in a research study, tracking your exercise and your nutrition, participating in a health database online.

Caregivers:

–Welcome a cooperative empowered attitude from patients 

–Assist patients in learning how to find reliable healthcare information 

–Communicate responsibly and frankly with patients 

–Be willing to teach preventive strategies 

–Assist patients in monitoring progress with treatment, i.e., maintaining good follow-up 

–Assisting patients in accessing information on insurance and financial aspects of medical care 

– Accepting feedback 

– Assisting patients with sharing information and participating in research if applicable

Links : 

The Top 5 Traits of Empowered Patients

http://empoweredpatientcoalition.org

Patient empowerment– who empowers whom?

Public Reporting, Consumerism, and Patient Empowerment