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A Collective Journey Towards Better Health and Wellness
Unravel the art of advocating for your health, exploring the interplay of self-care, communication, and gender dynamics in healthcare in a recent episode of the 'Painting Wellness Podcast' were myself and Katherine Garcia, LPC, delved deep into the subject of advocating for our health. Health, relationships, and wellness are all interconnected, forming a beautiful masterpiece we like to call the 'art of life'.
If you'd like to listen to our full conversation of this important topic, check it out on YouTube below!
Advocating for Your Health: A Courageous Act
The act of advocating for your health begins with recognizing the value of your own wellbeing and understanding that you have the right to voice your concerns, seek answers, and request the kind of care you need. It's about actively participating in your own health care, asking questions, understanding the options available to you, and making informed decisions that best suit your individual needs.
During my time as a chiropractor practicing in various environments, I've noticed a common apprehension among patients to openly discuss their health concerns. They often fear judgment, misunderstandings, or being perceived as troublesome. This can lead to a disconnect in communication, potentially resulting in less-than-ideal care.
However, this fear can be mitigated by building a strong relationship with your healthcare provider - one that fosters mutual respect, open dialogue, and understanding. A good provider will encourage patients to speak up, and reassure them that their input is not just welcomed but also integral to their healthcare journey. A strong patient-provider relationship encourages patients to communicate their concerns, ask questions, and share their needs and expectations openly.
As healthcare providers, we must also strive to create an environment where patients feel comfortable expressing their health concerns. We can do this by providing clear, comprehensible information, acknowledging their fears, validating their experiences, and encouraging their involvement in the decision-making process.
Moreover, patients must also recognize that it's okay to seek a second opinion, to question treatment options, and to voice concerns about their care. It's crucial to remember that healthcare is a service provided to you, and you have the right to fully understand and participate in your own care.
Advocating for one's health requires courage. It's a step into the unknown. It can be scary to ask questions when you're unsure of the answers you might receive. But remember, life is a series of questions and answers - sometimes the answers reassure us, other times they challenge us, but they always lead to growth. Advocacy is the same – it's a journey of exploration and growth towards better health and wellbeing.
Advocating for your health is a courageous act - a testament to your strength and resilience. As a holistic family chiropractor in Gilbert, AZ, I'm here to support you on this journey, offering not just treatments, but also guidance and encouragement. You have the power to shape your healthcare experience. All it takes is a little courage to voice your concerns, ask your questions, and demand the care you need and deserve.
The Gender Dynamic in Healthcare Advocacy
During our discussion, Katherine and I touched on how gender influences healthcare advocacy. We pondered whether men or women were better at taking care of themselves, making time for appointments, and seeking help when they're unwell. We concluded that generalizations might not serve us well here as the dynamics can be complicated and vary greatly from person to person.
For instance, we noted that many professional women may not prioritize their own healthcare due to their responsibilities, essentially putting others before themselves. Conversely, we explored how men might delay seeking help until their health significantly impacts their daily activities.
Prioritizing Your Health: Key to Advocacy
n roles like teaching, nursing, and other caretaking professions, the innate drive to help others often comes to the forefront. While this is a commendable trait, it can also lead to these individuals putting their own health on the back burner. As a holistic family chiropractor based in Gilbert, AZ, I can attest to the fact that prioritizing one's own health is a critical first step toward effective advocacy.
Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence; rather, it's a key aspect of maintaining our own physical, mental, and emotional health. It's about recognizing our own needs and ensuring they are met. When we neglect to do so, not only can it lead to a variety of health issues, but it can also impact our ability to care for others effectively. Advocacy begins at home, so to speak. If we don't prioritize our health, we can't effectively advocate for ourselves or others in healthcare settings. Our ability to ask for what we need, to insist on high-quality care, and to ensure our voices are heard is diminished.
To address this, we need a shift in mindset. It's essential to understand that taking care of one's self isn't selfish; it's a necessary part of being able to care for others. Prioritizing our health empowers us to serve as better caregivers, role models, and advocates not just for ourselves, but for our patients as well. Through my work as a holistic family chiropractor, I am committed to fostering this understanding and helping my patients embrace the importance of self-care and advocacy for their overall health and well-being.
Making Time for Your Healthcare Provider
A crucial part of healthcare advocacy involves finding time to consult with your healthcare provider. It's about asking follow-up questions when something doesn't sit well with you. I believe patients should be encouraged to share all their concerns without the fear of being dismissed or burdening their healthcare provider.
Creating Time and Advocating for Ourselves
One of the main themes we returned to throughout the conversation was the importance of creating time and advocating for ourselves. This could mean anything from making a list of your health concerns before an appointment to ensuring you make the time to visit your healthcare provider.
We discussed the need for patients to insist on holistic treatment, addressing all of their health concerns, not just the most pressing ones. Advocacy demands time, courage, and an unwavering commitment to our well-being.
Navigating Health Care from Both Sides of the Spectrum
As a provider, there are times when it can feel overwhelming, trying to contain the myriad of concerns patients might present during their consultation. From my perspective as a gentle, specific, and holistic family chiropractor in Gilbert, AZ, it often helps to distill these concerns into manageable, top-three priorities. This way, we can address each issue sequentially and effectively.
Katherine shares similar experiences. She recalls an instance when a provider requested for only bullet points, which made her feel like her narrative wasn't being fully heard. It's a tricky balancing act between giving your patients the space to express themselves and maintaining the efficiency needed in a healthcare setting.
The Importance of Prioritizing Health Concerns
The concept of distilling the patient's concerns into top three priorities doesn't mean we're ignoring other problems. Instead, it's a way to focus our attention on a particular area, preventing the overwhelming feeling that can come from trying to tackle everything at once.
However, the dilemma of time remains a significant issue. Many patients only visit when they are in a crisis, which means these visits can quickly turn into laundry lists of concerns. This is why we encourage making time for your health as a lifestyle choice rather than an annual obligation.
Men's Health: Barriers and Solutions
As we delved into men's health, Katherine posed an interesting question. Do men face different barriers to healthcare than women? This question is indeed complex, as the reasons why anyone might avoid seeking healthcare can be multifaceted and deeply personal.
One key barrier could be the quality of care. When the care received doesn't align with our expectations, it can discourage us from future visits. Sometimes, it may feel like the provider is applying a generic approach, without personalizing the care plan to our unique needs. This is why as a provider, I always ensure that I align my treatments with my patients' goals and specific health deficits.
Navigating The Disparity Between Providers and Patients
Interestingly, what works for providers might not necessarily work for patients. For instance, the three-prong approach that we use as providers may not be practical for patients due to time constraints. As such, we have to figure out how to adjust our strategies to meet the unique needs of our patients.
Advocacy and Better Communication
When it comes to health advocacy, it's about teaching our patients to communicate effectively with their providers and ensure their needs are met. This also involves providers asking the right questions, ones that go beyond the routine checklist. For example, rather than asking, "what hurts?" a more insightful question might be, "why are you seeking help now?"
Understanding the root cause and the underlying motivations for a patient's visit can inform our approach to care, making it more effective and personalized. Advocacy is not only about voicing your needs but also about asking the right questions and providing the right information.
At the end of the day, it's about a partnership between the patient and the provider. It's about working together to overcome barriers and finding ways to provide better care and achieve healthier outcomes.
Recap: A Journey Towards Better Health Advocacy
In a nutshell, our conversation explored various aspects of health advocacy from both the provider and patient perspectives. We discussed the importance of focusing on key health concerns, the barriers to care, and the role of effective communication in advocacy. Ultimately, it's about a collaborative approach to healthcare that respects and addresses the needs of the individual, and this is exactly what we strive to do at Base Camp Health, your family-friendly chiropractic office in Gilbert, AZ.
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