Posted by Nancy Renninger on January 28, 1998 at 19:33:27:
Listed below are examples of the four patient-provider prototypes: Paternalism is where you have a dominant provider control and a passive patient control. Examples of this type would include the elderly patient and maybe the disabled. They have complete faith in what is being done for them They are compliant and are willing to accept the care and nurturing from the provider.
Consumerism decribes a patient who believes in pt. rights, preventive services, and actually becomes a consumer when choosing health care. Examples of this type would be the young to middle-age professionals, the "yuppies", or even a real naturalist mother-to-be who insists on the "natural" childbirth, hometype birth.
Mutuality describes a happy medium in the patient-provider relationship. There is cooperation and respect for each other's resources in deciding health care. Besides the healthcare worker, another exammle might be a post MI patient who is now well-informed of what caused his event has done his "homework" and wants to take responsibility for his health and partake in his future healthcare decisions.
Default is the type of patient who continuously shows up for treatment, but never complies. He does not take his meds. or follow through with therapy or treatments suggested by the providers. There is no respect between the two parties. Examples of this type are commonly the lower income, medicaid families. ER abusers and the un-educated.
2. There are numerous sources of healthcare imformation out there, health lines, internet, journals, newspapers, news shows, family and friends, health care workers, etc. Each source of information must be taken into context. The consumer must be able to understand the information and filter out the "false claims". There is a certain amount of danger in this, but it is up to the consumer to question information they do not undestand or seems "to good to be true."
3. My example of a "bad" patient is one of our ER frequent flyers with a HX of drug and ETOH abuse. He inevitablly comes in each week for his routine " medical clearance" for jail, detox. or Ruth Cooper. It depends on what he has done or tken each time. He is
verbally abusive, disruptive, demanding, and filthy.
We have no choice but to treat him and he will never take any action to seek treatment for his dependencies.
My example of a "good" patient is another ER frequent flyer, but for the most part comes in legitimately with CHF. We go through the routine treating her each time and she is usually sent home within hours. However during the whole time she is compliant, entertains herself with gameboy (she is 83),
and is very appreciative of our care. She also never fails to bring in a box of Russel Stovers!!