Too often, we walk out of a doctor’s appointment with more questions than answers. While 90% of people want to be more involved in medical decisions and can imagine asking their doctor questions, only about 1 in 7 say they would actually speak up if they disagreed with their doctor’s recommendation.
Today, as new medical treatments, recommendations and research evolve, it’s more important than ever to advocate for ourselves and our families.
Most healthcare providers genuinely want to listen and provide thoughtful, individualized care, but the system around them doesn’t always make it possible. Administrative burdens, high caseloads, and burnout can leave little time for meaningful interaction. Six in 10 physicians say they lack the time or ability to effectively address a patient’s determinants of health, so it often falls on the patient to come prepared with what they need.
I’ve experienced the importance of patient advocacy firsthand, and from both sides. Working in medicine, I saw patients recommended for procedures that simple lifestyle changes would deem unnecessary. And as a patient myself, I have experienced oversights I assumed would be addressed, rather than inquiring proactively.
Becoming a mother solidified my need to speak up. For the sake of my family, and with the benefits of a medical background, I started asking more questions: why this approach? What are the side effects? What’s the science behind this recommendation? Empowering families to advocate for medical care and health policies that keep American families safe is part of why I started The Cure Coalition.
Advocacy, in the doctor’s office and beyond, starts with the tools and the confidence to ask the right questions. We at The Cure Coalition have created a discussion guide to help families start those conversations in the doctor’s office with simple prompts and ways to prepare and follow up with each visit. You can find the guide online.
We hope this guide and our work at the Cure Coalition helps you feel empowered to use your voice and always push for the highest standards for you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Cara Kingan
Executive Director, The Cure Coalition