https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN2GZJNL/
Patient Empowerment 101 looks like a fantastic
guide. Can you tell us a little about
it?
Absolutely. Patient Empowerment 101
is not just a book, it’s an adventure! I purposely wrote the book in a
conversation tone, interjecting humor here and there, to make readers feel like
they were just talking to a friend who happens to be a physician. In the book,
I give a wealth of practical, actionable tips to help people partner in their
healthcare while they lower their healthcare costs. Readers learn how to
communicate with physicians on an unprecedented level. When they develop common
symptoms, such as abdominal pain or a respiratory infection, they can reach for
the book to learn the common questions doctors ask for these symptoms.
I teach them how to prepare for
each doctor’s visit in advance. In addition, they are taught essential information
about the various types of health insurance. One of the most significant parts
of the book is that it teaches how to create a personal copy of health records.
It goes into detail about how to optimize your safety whenever hospitalized.
Technology in healthcare and patient advocacy round up the book. It ends with 3
appendices; common medical tests and terms doctors use to discuss results, a
glossary of common medical terms (with a pronunciation key), and a list of
common medical abbreviations. Last, but certainly not least, readers are given
access to a website created just for them. They can download fillable charts,
take self-assessment quizzes, and watch quick empowerment videos featuring
life-life characters.
How long did it take you to write Patient Empowerment
101?
I actually wrote and published part of the book over 20 years, ago. But, at that time people were not very interested in empowering themselves. Doctors basically told them what to do and they usually didn’t question it. They either followed the instructions or they didn’t. Now, people have become far more interested in being true partners in their healthcare. So, I updated some sections and add new information over the course of several months.
What inspired the idea for your book?
I knew that when given the right
tools, patients could play an enormous role in their own health care. We go to
medical school, but patients don’t have a patient school. They just need to be
taught basic concepts we use day in and day out, but there was no clear way for
them to obtain this information. I have seen an enormous amount of suffering
and untold wasted healthcare dollars due to lack of simple information. I just
wanted to help people understand how vital their role in their own care could
and should be.
How did you come up with the title to your book?
The goal is to empower everyday people with invaluable tools to help them play a more active role in their healthcare. In undergraduate school, the courses ending in 101 were the foundation for a given subject. Such is the case with Patient Empowerment 101; it lays a vital foundation for people who want to take their rightful place, at the center of their own health care team.
What will readers get out of your book?
The book gives easy to follow steps
to partner with your doctor to get the most out of every medical encounter,
whether in a doctor’s office or a hospital. Readers also learn the 8 key
elements many doctors want to know whenever a patient develops a new and
concerning symptom. Their reimbursement from the insurance company is tied to these
elements as well.
I also teach people how to create
and maintain a copy of personal health records. As noted, I created a sister
website with pages where readers can go to download charts to go into a 3-ring
binder which serves as their personal copy of health records. The charts are in
Word format, so once downloaded, users can fill them in directly on their
computer, save, and print them.
What part of the book was the most fun to write?
I think the most fun part was
creating scenarios to illustrate to patients how the way they think is often
very different from the way doctors think. These parts are fun to read yet
filled with powerful insights.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when
writing Patient Empowerment 101?
I suspect
the most challenging part was picking out the most important information that
will have the biggest impact on people’s lives. There are so many challenges
patients face, including those they are oblivious to. Picking out the topics
that could be most beneficial, among a long list of potential topics took time.
Can you tell us a little about your background?
I am a board-certified internist
with over 30 years of direct patient care experience. I actually started
writing patient empowerment literature when I was in my 3rd of year
of medical school. I saw so much unnecessary pain and suffering I just had to
do something as soon as possible. I couldn’t wait until I had MD behind my name
to start empowering people to live healthier, often longer lives. There is so
much the average person does not know about how to improve his health. I wanted
to jump in immediately and help people improve their lives.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
The book is available on Amazon in
paperback and Kindle eBook formats. The Patient Empowerment 101 Companion Book
should be out by the end of December 2022.