If you’ve had any encounters with medical professionals over the past few years you may have noticed a shift in how 
the exchange of information is handled. The health care system used to be more paternalistic with the doctor laying out the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis all in one neat package. The system was doctor-centered and the patient’s role was one of trust and compliance. The doctor had the formal education and knowledge which the patient benefited from. Gradually though, a shift has occurred and our system is now patient-oriented where the patient is more of a partner in the diagnosis and treatment process. Patients are expected to ask questions, obtain information, consider options, discuss rather than just listen, and participate in decision-making. This is not to say that the doctor has been displaced as the knowledgeable and educated expert but rather to recognize that all patients now play an expanded role in their own health care.
In order to do this, both participants need to learn new skill sets - patients need to educate themselves about their condition, ask questions, keep notes; doctors need to engage patients, express empathy, listen. This shift in the relationship dynamics is recognized by the medical community and being addressed in training. For their part, patients need to know that they have many educational resources available to them via their local public library, medical libraries that are open to the public, subscription databases, and the internet.
In the mid-Michigan area the Capital Area District Library offers many books and magazines and databases. Sparrow Health Sciences Library is open to the public for finding quality medical information. Reliable internet sites like WebMd, National Library of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic, are also useful. So, if you find yourself in need of reliable medical information, don’t hesitate to utilize one or all of these resources to complement the information you receive from your doctor and other medical professionals.
Disclaimer: The above material is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice.
