Professional Patient, Patient Professional

People with chronic illnesses see lots of doctors and we see them often. We get frustrated when our professionals are not patient with us. But are we being professional patients? I don’t know anyone who wants the job of being a professional patient except for a few hypochondriacs. I don’t know of any training courses that teach one to be a professional patient. When we become good professional patients it is much more likely (though not guaranteed) that our medical professionals will be patient. It’s the old “chicken and the egg” quandry.

What do professional patients do that differentiate them from amateur patients? Professional patients are proactive. They are well prepared when they come to appointments. Professional patients have a list of prioritized questions. They bring a copy of their medication and supplement list. They are prepared to describe changes in their symptoms in very clear and concrete terms. Professional patients learn about their disease and how to manage it. They are partners with the health providers. And, wonder of wonders, when we become professional patients we often find that our professionals become patient! (And if they don’t, then it may well be time to find new professionals.)