Skeptical
Right now, there is a lot of interest in patients...what they want, think, feel, do, use, believe.
While it is an indisputably GOOD thing (some might say mandatory thing) to care about patients, it is hardly altruistic. Because after all of the conferences I've been to, panels I've participated in, and reading I've done, I think the warm and fuzzy embrace of "Patient Engagement" can really be summarized like this:
- why aren't you taking your medications?
- how can you help us save/make more money?
Okay, so that's pretty cynical. But when almost 20% of the the American economy is healthcare, it's time to pay attention, especially if you are on this side of the scalpel, needle, scan, pill, or bill.
Because everything has a side effect. Everything.