We're different, they tell us. Patients aren't the same as they used to be - or at least many of us aren't. In particular, if you are reading this post, then you are one of the patients who is beginning to see your healthcare world differently from years ago when we patients were passive receivers of healthcare services - and our doctors were the paternalistic, head-patters ("There there! I'll make it all better for you!")
That shift in mindset and approach has now raised a big question among those healthcare experts I rub elbows with. Among the experts are doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals, researchers, statisticians, authors, economists, insurance personnel.... anyone who works within the business of healthcare.
Their question: Should we determine a new word for "patients"?
Is the word "patients" the OLD word? The one that meant we are passive receivers of services? Maybe. Maybe not.
What about "healthcare consumers"? Since we are (in the definition used by economists) consuming healthcare services - is that the term to use? Consumer means we are purchasing something. Of course, in the USA, that's exactly what we are doing.
The term "e-patient" has been used, too - and while it's supposed to mean empowered and engaged, most people think it means "e" - and in electronic - someone who uses the internet or even electronic medical records. Is it a good choice? Or does it cause confusion?
Among my patient advocate colleagues, the term "client" is used. When patient advocates refer to "clients" they mean their relationship with that person who has hired them to help them - not the patient's relationship with doctors or insurers. But perhaps "clients" could be broader based?
I coined a new term in my book, You Bet Your Life! The 10 Mistakes Every Patient Makes (How to Fix Them to Get the Health Care You Deserve). I call us empowered patients "emPatients". The "em" part refers to empowered, of course. But I also capitalize Patients -- because I consider us to be the most important participants in healthcare, commanding the respect of a capital letter. After all, if it wasn't for us Patients - there would be no need for healthcare!
Which word do you prefer? What do you consider yourself to be? Please let us know in this poll.... and if you have a new suggestion, tell us about it in the Comments section, below.
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I’m a person, or in the collective, people.
Other suggestions:
caree
person of illness
Hey, look at me over here!
We’ve been called “patients” because that’s what we are expected to be “patient” e.g. quietly and patiently waiting for medical care. I agree that the e-anything will be construed as “electronic” and we are not necessairly “clients” in that those of us insured are clients of the insurance company. The healthcare provider’s client is the insurance company….the person who pays them. So client is equally confusing.
In the “name game” changing the name has historically not changed the system. “a rose by any other name…”. Practically we want to be the manageing partner in our own healthcare. Something that doctors and nurses will never agree to in title. So rather than focus on what we are called we should focus on how we act. If we act like competent adults who are in charge of our own healthcare and communicate in a respectful but competent manner we are more likely to be treated as competent adult peers who really do make the final decisions about the healthcare we get. In the end it’s not what we are called but how we are treated.
I like the word “managing partner” as suggested by Steve. However, he is correct in stating that doctors and nurses would never agree to that term.
I definitely don’t care for the word patient because it implies that I am offering my body completely to the doctors care. I feel that I should have as much decision power as the doctor and that we should work as a team to make decisions regarding MY body.
Merriam Webster’s definition of patient for these purposes is “an individual awaiting or under medical care or treatment” – and I believe this is how good doctors and nurses still see their patients. As Steve said, changing the name will not change the situation. The only thing that does that is to behave in a competent, respectful manner and expect the same from our health care providers.
But then, I’m not a fan of re-naming things in general
We struggled with this question for a year or more in our medical advocacy business.
We decided upon “Participant”. With a capital “P”.
My Primary Care Physician and I have established a Partnership. But it wasn’t easy and needed time to build a history of trust and open communication. I had to learn to trust her. She had to learn to trust me. We each know our own roles in my health care and respect our own limitations–each relying on the other to do what we can’t. Building this Partnership has made me a better “patient.” And it has allowed her to be a better PCP.
Additionally, as my PCP and her multi-doctor clinic has become more overwhelmed with patients and paperwork, I find that I have to be more responsible for following up with labs and imaging reports–hand carrying copies to her to be sure they get to her. Since her clinic changed to “same day” scheduling instead of making advanced appointments, I also have to keep up with when my routine labs and imaging are due and have to initiate those myself instead of relying on my doctor or her staff to be sure I get those on schedule. Those tasks have fallen on my end of the Partnership.
But Partnerships take time to grow. When I have to see a specialist, I am rarely treated like a partner. Sometimes I’m not even treated like a human being–just a set of complexities they’d rather not deal with. If the specialists could be taught to think of me as a partner, I wouldn’t have to fight them so hard to get the health care I need.
Since the word “patient “was actually coined to define the long-suffering, passive, compliant receiver of medical treatment, I suggest scrapping the term in favor of the word “patron” for these reasons: it is a synonym for “client” and also means “customer,” “supporter” and “benefactor.” Since our dollars provide the doctor’s salary and support his/her
lifestyle and research, which would not otherwise exist, this is appropriate. The word also accurately balances the currently imbalanced power relationship. Also, since “patron” sounds similar to “patient” it is easy on the ears and is only one word as opposed to two. Simply using the term “doctor-patron relationship” places the entire situation in proper perspective. Would we still need a “patron-advocate?”
I like Partnership and Participant to describe myself. I was thinking something like “Active Self Advocate”, as opposed to a passive patient, since I am quite active in advocating on my own health.
To some of my docs, I am a “well-informed and empowered Pest.” To others I am that gal that brings in too many print outs of health research papers. To my least favorite oncologist, I was part of the paycheck that went for his kid’s college fund. But with the doctors that respect and treat me the best, I am “Pam.” When I am treated as a Person and not a collection of symptoms and complaints, that’s when I get the best care. So just call me by name, and I’ll do the same for you, Doc!
Trisha,
You address an important point here. How doctors refer to patients is not trivial; it reflects how they think about the people under they care. And how people with illnesses perceive themselves – as I do in my everyday life – differs from how I think of myself in the doctor’s office.
Consumer? Definitely not! I want expertise, care and compassion; those can’t t be purchased at any price.
Partnership is fine in principle, but ultimately I think the ideal health care relationship involves a more knowledgeable caregiver who communicates effectively, listens and respects the wishes and values of the person who needs care. If the doctor doesn’t know any more than the patient, what’s the point of med school, residency, post-graduate training…?
I like to be considered and described as a person (people in the plural) or participant. Participant makes you be a little more active in the whole thing, vs just letting it happen to you. A patient is someone who is acted on (lots of times without explanation), something I’d prefer not to be.
Interesting as I have just read and commented today on another blog where the discussion was about “what do you call your doctor?”. A lot of the docs who commented were annoyed, and more, at patients not calling them doctor. I read little in the way of what should you call your patients, absent do you use their title, Ms., Mrs, Mr?
It is an interesting question. I am a hypnotherapist. I always correct people when they call my clients ‘patients’ because I am not a medical doctor. I am not sure why but I don’t like the word ‘client’ or ‘consumer’ in lieu pf ‘patient’. Maybe it is merely habit. Maybe, although more time consuming, the term for patient could be health care consumer or health care client.
Carol
author A PAINED LIFE, a chronic pain journey
http://apainedlife.blogspot.com/
I’ve had too many years of being sold each doctor’s standard consultation regardless of my symptoms. While I used to consider myself a patient, these days I consider myself a “customer”. I get sold whatever the doctor’s selling, their favourite disease, their favourite test or their favourite treatment, and all for exactly the same set of symptoms.
Steve.