I am at an impasse. I moved to AZ 14 yrs ago and have run into so many physicians I don’t respect and whom I fired or who fired me. I am down to one now, an eye doctor (am blind in my right eye due to another one of those and combination of events).
I also should probably have a cardiologist (atrial fib), but I have failed two huge therapies for that—or rather, they failed me!
So I don’t go to a cardio, because I know I won’t do what he or she says.
Jessie Gruman, head of the Health Behavior News Service, wrote the other day about the difference between “engagement” with your doctor and “compliance.”
With all us patients being more inquisitive, empowered, argumentative and maybe knowledgeable, too, just going to a doctor and getting a prescription does not mean we will comply.
A third of people, Jessie says, who get a script don’t fill it. Half of those who fill it, don’t take it as directed.
They are noncompliant, in other words.
Yet, people are more engaged than ever—they look up their ailments, they check side efx of meds, they check alternatives.
Yet, when many people say we should be more engaged with our care, they really mean compliant.
A lot of us are learning the difference.
Jessie has a new website you might like. Check out the Prepared Patient Forum.
http://www.preparedpatientforum.org/
Any thoughts on this, readers?
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