Independent Medical Writer
The medical record mistakes jumped out at me through the patient portal. One painted me as an antibiotic seeker, despite my caution about taking drugs. That stung, because my mother suffered from infections that defied treatment, the result of overzealous antibiotic prescribing. As for me, one antibiotic left me bedridden for days; another sparked an allergic rash. Now, my doctor’s words threatened to bias my future treatment and risk my health…. Read More→
Patients seeking answers to their health questions online might instead find more questions. I mean that literally: Organizations and pundits have posted lists of questions that they think patients should ask doctors. As near as I can tell, they’ve done so to aid doctor-patient communication, improve health care, keep patients safe, and help patients get… Read More→
Patients can’t get a break. They may be hurting, nauseous, groggy, short of breath, exhausted, or fearful about their future, but they still have work to do. As part of the long-overdue push to make health care more patient-centered and safe, various health-care leaders have been telling patients to do this and that. “Take charge… Read More→
