Today’s healthcare landscape has evolved beyond the traditional role of the physician as a caregiver. While doctors play a key role in treating disease, preventative care and patient education have become increasingly important.
Consequently, this requires patients to take control of their health and do everything they can to maintain it. This doesn’t just mean managing appointments, medications, checkups, and so on — but going beyond that.
Being activated as a patient means adopting practices that will lead you to optimum health and well-being from the inside out. It is a proactive approach to healthcare that involves monitoring your body and habits to identify risks before they turn into diseases.
In general, being an activated patient means taking steps to improve your health so you can live a longer, happier life. This article details the top eight benefits of being an activated patient.
Who is an Activated Patient?
An activated patient is someone who proactively seeks out information about their medical conditions and treatment options. They also partner with their healthcare team to come up with plans and solutions to health issues. This is also known as patient engagement.
Patient engagement in healthcare is crucial because it encourages monitoring your symptoms and progress so you can act quickly if you notice anything unusual. As a result, you are proactive about your health and wellness and use this knowledge and power to create positive change in your life.
You no longer need to wait for things to happen to you, nor do you just passively complying with recommendations from other people.
An activated patient doesn’t have to be sick or dealing with a serious medical condition. It can also be someone who simply wants to stay healthier by managing their lifestyle, diet, and environment in a way that promotes wellness.
Activated patients not only take better care of themselves but also support other patients by sharing what they’ve learned and encouraging them to be activated patients as well.
8 Benefits of being an Activated Patient
These eight benefits will help you understand why being an activated patient is worth your time and effort.
- Make Informed Decisions
If you’re not informed about your medical condition and treatment options, you won’t be able to make informed decisions about your care. You will also lack the power to partner with your healthcare team to come up with a treatment plan that’s right for you.
However, if you’ve done your research, you will be up to date with the latest on your condition. You will also know the treatment options available to you, which will empower you to make the best possible decision for your health and well-being.
If you are informed, you can clearly communicate your decisions and treatment goals with your doctors and other healthcare providers.
They will appreciate your knowledge and ability to actively participate in your care. An informed decision is always better than a decision made in ignorance.
- Lower Costs
When you take an active role in your health care, you can help lower your costs in several ways.
- Early Detection of Problems – First, you’re more likely to catch minor problems before they turn into big ones. You know your body better than anyone else, so you will know if you start to feel different or have new symptoms.
As an activated patient, you will have the presence of mind to report it to your healthcare provider immediately. Such an action might save you money by catching diseases early.
- Make More affordable Decisions – Second, you’ll be better equipped to make decisions about your care that are informed by cost considerations. You will understand your options more, which will help you make better decisions.
- Find Cheaper Solutions – Third, you may be able to avoid or limit the use of high-cost treatments by working with your doctor to find alternative solutions. Having discussions with your healthcare provider will enable you to choose cheaper yet equally effective solutions.
- Costs Covered by Sponsors – And finally, if you participate in clinical trials and other research studies, your expenses will be covered by the research sponsor! So, if you want to save money while helping yourself live healthier, being an activated patient is the way to go.
- Participate in Your Treatment Plan
Healthcare providers are experts in their field, but you are the expert on yourself. You know your body, your symptoms, and your life better than anyone else. Therefore, you can contribute to the discussion about the best treatment plan for you.
If you are not actively participating in your treatment, you will most likely be prescribed a generic treatment plan for your condition and demographic, which may not be the best plan for you.
An activated patient who is contributing to the discussion about the best treatment plan for them will likely get a treatment plan that is better suited to their unique situation.
- Be Updated on Your Care and Treatment.
When you’re an activated patient, you are actively monitoring your progress and taking note of everything that is occurring with your treatment.
You know what your healthcare providers are doing, and you know what you are doing to take care of yourself. Therefore, you know exactly what is happening with your treatment and care.
This means that you are less likely to be surprised by any unexpected side effects, results, or other things that could alter your treatment plan.
- More In Control
Being an activated patient puts you in control of your life during treatment. You have the power to take charge of your health and wellness, actively participate in your care and do what is best for you.
You have the power to choose how you want to live your life during treatment, even if you have to make some adjustments. You can actively participate in your treatment and make your life feel less out of control during treatment.
This is true, especially when dealing with long-term conditions like chronic pain and an autoimmune disease. Being in control will help you feel more empowered and less helpless during treatment.
- Improves Communication
Healthcare providers work with many patients daily, and they can’t spend much time with each person. Therefore, they rely on patients to communicate information about their symptoms and progress.
If you do not communicate all your symptoms and other information they need efficiently, you may not be getting all the information you need from your healthcare providers.
However, if you become an activated patient, you will be able to communicate what you need to your healthcare team. You will also be able to identify information gaps more easily.
Healthcare providers are human, and they sometimes forget things that you may have told them or information that you might have given them in the past.
They might not have time to look up all the information again. But being an activated patient can help you avoid communication gaps and get the information you need.
- Better Results
When you take an active role in your health care, you’re more likely to see better results. You’re also more likely to feel better about your care and have a better experience overall. Here are some results you might notice
- More Satisfaction: You’ll be more satisfied with treatment if you have a say in how it was done and when it was done.
- Less Anxiety: Taking on responsibility for important aspects of your healthcare can decrease anxiety related to illness or injury. This can be very comforting which can improve your overall sense of wellbeing.
- Fewer Regrets: There’s less chance you’ll regret not doing something if you’ve been involved in the decision-making process from the beginning.
- Get the best outcome possible.
Being an activated patient can increase the likelihood of getting the best outcome possible for your medical condition. In addition, it can help you get more out of your healthcare providers by helping you get the most out of each visit.
It can also help you get the most out of yourself by helping you take charge of your health and wellness. You will be able to take advantage of natural healing processes and avoid common pitfalls that can hold you back or even be harmful to your progress.
Being an activated patient can help you achieve the best outcome possible for your medical condition. It can help you achieve optimal results in less time, less effort, and fewer complications.
Becoming an activated patient is not easy, but it is worth it. It will help you get more out of your healthcare providers and help you get more out of yourself. It will help you get the most out of your healthcare, and it will help you get the most out of your life.
Conclusion
Becoming an activated patient is like switching on a light inside yourself that shines brightly and helps you better navigate your health journey. It can be challenging to do, but it is a worthwhile and rewarding process.
It will help you get more out of your healthcare providers, help you get more out of yourself, and help you get the most out of your life. It is a journey worth taking, and it can be a vividly illuminating one.
