Healthcare as a Participatory Sport

I’m always seeking out patient stories and the patient perspective, knowing they make me a better informed and more thoughtful marketer. I follow a monthly online series called Patient Insights. As you might expect from the title, the posts provide the reader with the patient’s view of his or her experience and how they interacted with their providers. The stories are powerful and well crafted. The series is the product of a partnership between Inspire, a company with an online support community of more than 1.5 million patients and caregivers worldwide, and pharmaphorum, an organization that uses content to connect the pharmaceutical industry and other innovators to advance healthcare.

The latest article is an interview with Claire Snyman, a health advocate who, based on her experience with a rare non-malignant brain tumor, now has a passion for inspiring people to be active participants in their own health.

The article is a quick read but will absolutely give you an inside look into how an individual feels as they are facing such a terrifying diagnosis and enduring what may seem like endless rounds of treatment.

For me, the following quote from Claire hit the nail on the head, spelling out the importance of patients being their own advocates: “Finding ways to connect, communicate and collaborate with healthcare teams for better patient outcomes and patient experience is also a focus for me. During my patient journey, if I had not been an activated individual and participated in my care, I would not be here today. This is why this is such a key area of focus for me.” (Source: Patient Insights) For some, participating can be the difference between life and death. That’s one really important reason why we need to welcome the patient as a vital member of the care team.