The fast way to fail is to ‘patiently’ engage patients.
This is an easy pathway to lackluster health systems, health plans, physician practices, and even startups.
We can’t stand by and wait for patients to engage with us. We need to proactively engage with patients.
When we forget this, we ask patients to:
- Wait for us
- Be more concise
- Ask fewer questions
- Be more self-sufficient
- Punt non-medical problems elsewhere
Instead, we need to remember —
- Engaged patients are healthier patients.
- Engaged patients drive innovation.
- Engaged patients engage us.
This is the reason we are all in healthcare.
Written June 21, 2024.