Every Patient has a Story: Putting your story together when you need it most.

Illness doesn’t discriminate. From the very young to the very old, people may find themselves faced with an unexpected illness or injury.  When this occurs, they seek medical care.  To enable health care providers to make good decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment, they rely on a full understanding of a patient’s “story” or medical history. 

Knowing a patient’s past illnesses and surgeries, current medications, and allergies is essential to determine the best treatment for the individual.  However, rarely do people compile their complete story – their complete health history in one place. Typically most people don’t because they don’t realize how important it is the have their story in one place. They don’t realize that if ever faced with an unexpected injury or illness, their care might depend on their ability to share an accurate account of their medical history.

Working as a homecare nurse afforded me the opportunity to see how patients actually cared for themselves beyond the four walls of the hospital.  I quickly learned why some patients had frequent repeated events related to their chronic illness despite state of the art treatment. It was usually during my initial visit that I discovered the problem. Occasionally, the problem was the incomplete story they shared with their medical providers.

I once cared for a patient that was frequently admitted to the hospital with heart failure. He took Lanoxin (to help the heart pump stronger) and Furosemide (to get rid of the extra fluid). I reviewed his medications and happened to ask if he was taking any herbal supplements. To my surprise, he grabbed a bag from the top of his refrigerator that held at least 20 different supplements. None of them were listed on his medication record. What I discovered was that he was taking St. John’s Wart, an herbal supplement which can decrease the effectiveness of Lanoxin! When I asked if he told his physician he was taking the supplements he said no because he didn’t think it mattered. They weren’t “real medications.” No wonder he kept going into heart failure.  I was able to share the information with his physician who then adjusted his medications accordingly. He wasn’t admitted to the hospital for the next year.

Without realizing it, he failed to disclose important information that impacted his care because he didn’t realize it was important. That’s why it’s so important that you have somebody with clinical insight and a full understanding of health care to help compile your story.

If you can’t tell a complete and accurate story, consider asking for help from an expert. Consider hiring a patient advocate who can help you. Even if you never have to tell your story, knowing that you have it can give you the peace of mind you need.

Take care and be well.

R.Thompson, MSN, RN

To find out how advocacy can help you or your loved one, please contact the advocates at Uppta at www.uppta.com