Being a good patient takes patience

😷 UGH, NOT AGAIN!

Friends, last week was tough. I caught Covid and it was worse than usual. We are at that time, where Covid might not be new, but its severity can fluctuate. For those who are immunocompromised, Covid is a specific type of horror that likes to stick around as long as possible, inflicting maximum pain and discomfort.

One action that worked in my favor last week involved reaching out to one of my doctors (not my PCP). During my last check-in, which was longer than 15 minutes, they shared how important it was to contact their office if I became ill.

I remembered this conversation because I was shocked my doctor wanted me to do this every time I felt under the weather. Of course I had questions. Due to some health issues, they wanted me to proactively reach out in case I might need more support to battle whatever illness came my way.

The appointment wrapped up and I didn’t think about it much till I started writing this newsletter.

Recently I read, “Communication and knowledge are not just about words. They are also about feeling, and the things we cannot say. “ This statement came from an article about autism and communication. While I read the article for informative purposes, I ended up learning more than I expected. Take a look if you have a chance.

My doctor recognized, she needed to do a bit more to ensure I fully understood and heard her admonition. So, when I reached out via the portal, the response was almost immediate from the clinical team.

To make a long story short, while things felt bad, my body was dealing the virus as it should. I listened to their advice.

Being a patient definitely requires listening and patience. It helps to have providers that not only treat what they see, they also plan for eventualities.

I’ll admit, resting on any day is not a high priority. After talking with the clinician and hearing how much I needed to hydrate and rest ASAP, I listened. I’m grateful to be on the mend as a result.

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🗞️ INFORMATION TO KEEP IN MIND . . .

Below are several news stories to note.

• Long-term care is pricing out everyone but the wealthy?

• At times, we have to make our own solutions. Check out this caregiver’s story.

• North Dakota ranked second behind Hawaii for senior care costs last year!

• Some insurers are using AI in novel ways such as starting their own AI consulting organization. Say hi to Optum AI.