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The Canadian healthcare crisis shows no signs of letting up. More doctors are getting out. More Canadians are suffering with one, often 2 chronic health conditions. Options for help can be limited to long waits at a walk-in or the E.R., or virtual and private (out-of-pocket) care.
Our fabulous model of socialized medicine and “healthcare for all”, so envied by our American neighbors, has turned out to be a bit of a sham. Furthermore, for all the lip service being paid by our federal and provincial leaders to improving the system, we’re all sensing a progressive deterioration.
Taking Charge of Your Own Health
At the same time, I can’t stop thinking about a book I recently read by Dr. Casey Means called Good Energy.
She points to metabolic dysfunction as the leading cause of the most common diseases, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s to autoimmune disorders, irritable bowel and others. Her sensible recommendations for simple lifestyle changes can produce remarkable improvements to our well-being.
Having just returned from a health conference attended mostly by pharmaceutical professionals and media and technology partners who work with them, I was struck by a very obvious observation.
While each company in their respective presentations made sure to incorporate the popular catchphrase “patient-centric” into their slides, not a single one talked about helping the patient understand the importance of lifestyle modifications for better outcomes. Things like eliminating processed foods, increasing daily physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and taking more charge of wellness and self-monitoring didn’t come up once.
All of these variables show indisputable evidence to support their impact towards a lessening and prevention of illness, or at a very minimum, a reduction of symptoms. Instead, the term “patient-centricity” was invoked by these individuals to discuss how to better market their drugs in more effective “patient-centric” ways. They discussed the more effective use of clever consumer apps and messaging through Tik Tok and other social media platforms to deliver their intervention messaging because that is where the patient turns to for their news and education.
Ironically, when sitting and chatting with these same industry people for the scheduled breaks and meals, most were very forthcoming about their own lifestyle changes such as exercise and modified diets in the hopes of improving their overall health and longevity.
One of the recurring themes in her book Good Energy, is the importance of the patient taking charge. Dr. Means makes mention of continuous glucose monitoring devices and other wearables that help monitor things like glucose and insulin regulation , which in turn gives insight into the “metabolic dysfunction”, which according to Dr. Means, impacts 95% of Americans. It’s quite eye-opening. She’s also very clear about the impact of processed foods and specific additives that are wreaking havoc on our systems. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s had a major impact on how I view and now respond to my healthcare needs.
Family Doctor Still Important
All that said, even with the all the knowledge and even with a broken healthcare system, having a family doctor to turn to is still very important.
At The Health Insider, we recently conducted a survey asking thousands of patients about their success in finding a new doctor since being orphaned. We found that the successful respondents all shared the common trait of stopping at nothing to take matters into their own hands. They would call doctor’s office after office, check with friends and family, and just about anything else they could think of to find that one doctor who would agree to take on one more patient. And they succeeded, proving once again that the proactive, engaged patient will always have the best chance of winning. No surprise really. We all know the old adage about “desperate times”.
The proactive patient understands that to win the lottery, you have to at least buy a ticket. It doesn’t just fall into your lap. Take charge of your health and healthcare. When you lose a doctor or even while you still have a doctor, get involved. You have options for well being that your doctor doesn’t discuss. Get a copy of your own medical record and keep it updated as this is the baseline for everything that comes afterwards when it comes to your health picture. Read the book by Dr. Casey Means and let me know how it impacts you.
The proactive and engaged healthcare consumer will most certainly live the happier, healthier life and will likely be around longer to share the reasons why that is.
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. To read about our editorial review process click here.
