Self Help

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Patients Looking Out for Each Other – When Patients Know Best

When oncologists consider recommendations for their patients’ cancer treatment, they will often consider the guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. They expect to find the latest information in effective treatment, based on the best research, along with information they can share with their patients. But it turns out, that may not be what’s

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When Patients Read What Their Doctors Write

Article:  When Patients Read What Their Doctors Write  by Leana Wen, MD from Reader’s Digest (and NPR) What a great empowerment tool for patients!  Read this article about how Dr. Wen works with her patients during visits to make sure their electronic records are accurate. Smart Patient Takeaway:  This is a great tool for patients

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Looking for Trisha Torrey, (former) About.com Patient Empowerment Expert?

  You found me!  Here I am! And I’m moving back in, here to my personal blog. Home. Where I started writing about Patient Empowerment in 2005. It’s been awhile since I’ve been “home.” Look around!  You can see how dusty it is. I’ve got to wash the curtains and get them back up. Clearly

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Sometimes It’s Better to Just Say No

Story One: When I was a child (and we’re talking a lo-o-o-ng time ago – when doctors made house calls)… if I got an earache, I would suffer.  REALLY suffer. Mom would drip some warm oil into my ear, and then stuff some cotton in behind it. She’d give me an orange flavored baby aspirin

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Time to Put a Stop to Drive-by-Doctoring

As many of my readers know, I speak at meetings and conferences fairly frequently, and most often to groups of patients and caregivers. The focus of the talks I give is usually on a patient empowerment topic – ranging from how to communicate with your doctor, to how to stay safe in the hospital, to

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A Tutor Who Tooted the Flute…

In a conversation with a friend the other day, I was explaining the need for patient advocates (which she got immediately) – and the “tutor tongue-twister” came to mind.  Do you know it? A tutor who tooted the flute, Tried to tutor two tooters to toot, Said the two to the tutor, “It’s tougher to

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Who’s Really a Patient? Skewed Opinions Result from Inside Information

That seems like a fairly simple question, don’t you think?  Who really is a patient? But the answer is actually more complex than you might realize. Among the possibilities: 1.  anyone who has ever accessed medical care is a patient – which includes everyone, no matter what their relationship is to the healthcare system (so,

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Trisha Torrey
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