Patient empowerment in healthcare settings

Health

Patient Empowerment

Patient empowerment is a relatively new concept that is part of the natural health faction, which believes that people have the power to change their environments and societal situations, and not just their personal behavior, to empower themselves and their health. It is extremely important, because the movement believes patients have the right to make their own decisions, and that definitely affects the healthcare profession and how they deal with patients. It benefits the patient because it involves them in their own healthcare, and allows them to make decisions, rather than simply following instructions from the caregiver. Following instructions reduces the involvement and investment of the patient, and so, they may not follow the instructions, and they may not benefit from them. Engaging the patient in their own healthcare choices makes them more involved and much more invested in the outcome. It also benefits the patients by empowering them to gain access to their medical records, to request a second opinion, and to stand up to the bureaucracy of the healthcare and insurance providers.

Of course, there are negative implications to patient empowerment. Not all patients will understand the nuances and aspects of their disease, and they may make emotional or uniformed decisions about their healthcare that could negatively affect the outcome of their treatment or disease. They also may not accept the diagnosis of a professional, even though it is correct, and demand more costly tests or confirmation, instead of quickly entering the treatment they need. This could actually lead to more patient mortality, due to lack of understanding, mistrust, and even miscommunication. Patient empowerment is a great tool for many patients, but some many misunderstand or misuse it to the detriment of their own health. Patients can empower themselves by reading more about their illness, asking questions, and demanding more information from their healthcare providers, so they can make informed decisions about their healthcare.