
what if I told you that each and every one of you holds these secret ingredient
one of you holds these secret ingredient
one of you holds these secret ingredient to your health that’s just as important
to your health that’s just as important
to your health that’s just as important as your doctor’s medical expertise and
as your doctor’s medical expertise and
as your doctor’s medical expertise and training once upon a time there was a
training once upon a time there was a
training once upon a time there was a thirteen year old girl whose mother had
thirteen year old girl whose mother had
thirteen year old girl whose mother had overcome breast cancer and was in
overcome breast cancer and was in
overcome breast cancer and was in remission she was feeling a bit off and
remission she was feeling a bit off and
remission she was feeling a bit off and called her doctor several times before a
called her doctor several times before a
called her doctor several times before a summer vacation with her children but
summer vacation with her children but
summer vacation with her children but her complaints were dismissed upon
her complaints were dismissed upon
her complaints were dismissed upon returning from the trip it turned out
returning from the trip it turned out
returning from the trip it turned out she was right and something was wrong
she was right and something was wrong
she was right and something was wrong 45 days after now being diagnosed with
45 days after now being diagnosed with
45 days after now being diagnosed with lung cancer she died at the age of 42
lung cancer she died at the age of 42
lung cancer she died at the age of 42 leaving behind her four children once
leaving behind her four children once
leaving behind her four children once upon a time there was a 21 year old
upon a time there was a 21 year old
upon a time there was a 21 year old young lady whose father had both cancer
young lady whose father had both cancer
young lady whose father had both cancer and diabetes after having a heart attack
and diabetes after having a heart attack
and diabetes after having a heart attack he was discharged with an extensive list
he was discharged with an extensive list
he was discharged with an extensive list of medications and follow-up procedures
of medications and follow-up procedures
of medications and follow-up procedures many times he tried to call his doctors
many times he tried to call his doctors
many times he tried to call his doctors for help to make him to help him make
for help to make him to help him make
for help to make him to help him make sense of it all but the help did not
sense of it all but the help did not
sense of it all but the help did not come in time he ended up having a drug
come in time he ended up having a drug
come in time he ended up having a drug reaction transfixed in a coma he died
reaction transfixed in a coma he died
reaction transfixed in a coma he died two weeks later at the age of 51 once
two weeks later at the age of 51 once
two weeks later at the age of 51 once upon a time there was a 29 year old
upon a time there was a 29 year old
upon a time there was a 29 year old whose husband was extremely weak the
whose husband was extremely weak the
whose husband was extremely weak the doctors found he had a low blood count
doctors found he had a low blood count
doctors found he had a low blood count and diagnosed it with about of anemia he
and diagnosed it with about of anemia he
and diagnosed it with about of anemia he should not be too concerned with
should not be too concerned with
should not be too concerned with everyday he seemed to get weaker and his
everyday he seemed to get weaker and his
everyday he seemed to get weaker and his heart felt as if it were about to
heart felt as if it were about to
heart felt as if it were about to explode he pleaded with his doctors to
explode he pleaded with his doctors to
explode he pleaded with his doctors to fix it something wasn’t right but his
fix it something wasn’t right but his
fix it something wasn’t right but his complaints were dismissed a few days
complaints were dismissed a few days
complaints were dismissed a few days later he was rushed to the emergency
later he was rushed to the emergency
later he was rushed to the emergency room and they were shocked to find he
room and they were shocked to find he
room and they were shocked to find he had a bleeding stomach tumor the size of
had a bleeding stomach tumor the size of
had a bleeding stomach tumor the size of a golf ball if he had waited any longer
a golf ball if he had waited any longer
a golf ball if he had waited any longer writing out his bout of anemia he most
writing out his bout of anemia he most
writing out his bout of anemia he most likely would have died and that 13 year
likely would have died and that 13 year
likely would have died and that 13 year old who lost her mother as a result of
old who lost her mother as a result of
old who lost her mother as a result of issues in the healthcare system grew up
issues in the healthcare system grew up
issues in the healthcare system grew up to be that 21 year old who lost her
to be that 21 year old who lost her
to be that 21 year old who lost her father and that 21 grew up to be that 29
father and that 21 grew up to be that 29
father and that 21 grew up to be that 29 year old who almost lost her husband and
year old who almost lost her husband and
year old who almost lost her husband and I’m sure you’ve guessed that that 29
I’m sure you’ve guessed that that 29
I’m sure you’ve guessed that that 29 year olds group to me me the voices of
year olds group to me me the voices of
year olds group to me me the voices of my mother my father my
my mother my father my
my mother my father my husband they weren’t hurt at the time
husband they weren’t hurt at the time
husband they weren’t hurt at the time but I’m here to tell their story I am
but I’m here to tell their story I am
but I’m here to tell their story I am tired of the issues in the health care
tired of the issues in the health care
tired of the issues in the health care system snatching my family members well
system snatching my family members well
system snatching my family members well before their time they say it gets
before their time they say it gets
before their time they say it gets easier over the years and they are wrong
easier over the years and they are wrong
easier over the years and they are wrong my sleepless nights of what-ifs feel my
my sleepless nights of what-ifs feel my
my sleepless nights of what-ifs feel my passion to make a difference in the
passion to make a difference in the
passion to make a difference in the lives of others as a patient advocate
lives of others as a patient advocate
lives of others as a patient advocate where I help patients and caregivers
where I help patients and caregivers
where I help patients and caregivers navigate their health I am angry I’m sad
navigate their health I am angry I’m sad
navigate their health I am angry I’m sad I’m perplexed but I am hopeful that as
I’m perplexed but I am hopeful that as
I’m perplexed but I am hopeful that as we start to amplify the voice of the
we start to amplify the voice of the
we start to amplify the voice of the patient what happened to me and my
patient what happened to me and my
patient what happened to me and my family will never affect yours the
family will never affect yours the
family will never affect yours the patient’s life expertise is just as
patient’s life expertise is just as
patient’s life expertise is just as important as the doctors medical
important as the doctors medical
important as the doctors medical expertise and only when the two come
expertise and only when the two come
expertise and only when the two come together and engage in an embrace and
together and engage in an embrace and
together and engage in an embrace and what I refer to as the patient doctor
what I refer to as the patient doctor
what I refer to as the patient doctor tango can it truly lead to a powerful
tango can it truly lead to a powerful
tango can it truly lead to a powerful connection and ultimately a flawless
connection and ultimately a flawless
connection and ultimately a flawless performance
performance
performance now it’s neither the steps nor the
now it’s neither the steps nor the
now it’s neither the steps nor the rhythm that defined the tango but rather
rhythm that defined the tango but rather
rhythm that defined the tango but rather the unique connection that the two
the unique connection that the two
the unique connection that the two partners create together and I use the
partners create together and I use the
partners create together and I use the tango as an analogy because the key
tango as an analogy because the key
tango as an analogy because the key elements of his dance are the foundation
elements of his dance are the foundation
elements of his dance are the foundation to the ideal patient doctor relationship
to the ideal patient doctor relationship
to the ideal patient doctor relationship balance partnership respect connection
balance partnership respect connection
balance partnership respect connection continuous give-and-take improvisation
continuous give-and-take improvisation
continuous give-and-take improvisation where no dance is the same intuitive
where no dance is the same intuitive
where no dance is the same intuitive decision making to navigate the
decision making to navigate the
decision making to navigate the encounter now in the ideal patient
encounter now in the ideal patient
encounter now in the ideal patient doctor relationship the patient
doctor relationship the patient
doctor relationship the patient expertise is embraced in partnership
expertise is embraced in partnership
expertise is embraced in partnership with the doctors medical expertise which
with the doctors medical expertise which
with the doctors medical expertise which is the essence of participatory medicine
is the essence of participatory medicine
is the essence of participatory medicine or both doctor and patient are equal
or both doctor and patient are equal
or both doctor and patient are equal partners the sad reality is that we’re
partners the sad reality is that we’re
partners the sad reality is that we’re far from mastering the art and science
far from mastering the art and science
far from mastering the art and science of the patient doctor tango the patient
of the patient doctor tango the patient
of the patient doctor tango the patient story the patient voice our oldest
story the patient voice our oldest
story the patient voice our oldest diagnostic tool is often overlooked in
diagnostic tool is often overlooked in
diagnostic tool is often overlooked in healthcare I’d like to share a few facts
healthcare I’d like to share a few facts
healthcare I’d like to share a few facts with you from recent studies that put a
with you from recent studies that put a
with you from recent studies that put a spotlight on reality fact 75% of
spotlight on reality fact 75% of
spotlight on reality fact 75% of patients were interrupted by their
patients were interrupted by their
patients were interrupted by their doctors as they were describing their
doctors as they were describing their
doctors as they were describing their symptoms fact doctors listened for an
symptoms fact doctors listened for an
symptoms fact doctors listened for an average of 16 seconds before
average of 16 seconds before
average of 16 seconds before interrupting their patients fact once
interrupting their patients fact once
interrupting their patients fact once interrupted only 2% of patients
interrupted only 2% of patients
interrupted only 2% of patients completed their story
fifty percent of doctors graduate in the
fifty percent of doctors graduate in the bottom half of their class one person
bottom half of their class one person
bottom half of their class one person got that okay
got that okay
got that okay opinion if doctors use their ears as
opinion if doctors use their ears as
opinion if doctors use their ears as often as they use the CT scan or an MRI
often as they use the CT scan or an MRI
often as they use the CT scan or an MRI it would be half the battle now in all
it would be half the battle now in all
it would be half the battle now in all fairness to doctors the majority of
fairness to doctors the majority of
fairness to doctors the majority of healthcare systems have not been
healthcare systems have not been
healthcare systems have not been designed to embrace the voice of the
designed to embrace the voice of the
designed to embrace the voice of the patient although there are pockets where
patient although there are pockets where
patient although there are pockets where this is happening and this value is
this is happening and this value is
this is happening and this value is being recognized in a sense it’s a new
being recognized in a sense it’s a new
being recognized in a sense it’s a new way of practicing medicine so we have
way of practicing medicine so we have
way of practicing medicine so we have some work to do now the Argentine tango
some work to do now the Argentine tango
some work to do now the Argentine tango is a style that relies on improvisation
is a style that relies on improvisation
is a style that relies on improvisation the traditional paternalistic approach
the traditional paternalistic approach
the traditional paternalistic approach where man leads and woman follows
where man leads and woman follows
where man leads and woman follows vanishes where either can now lead and
vanishes where either can now lead and
vanishes where either can now lead and follow in a give-and-take relationship
follow in a give-and-take relationship
follow in a give-and-take relationship the right partner can truly lead to a
the right partner can truly lead to a
the right partner can truly lead to a masterpiece of a performance now in
masterpiece of a performance now in
masterpiece of a performance now in healthcare forging a strong partnership
healthcare forging a strong partnership
healthcare forging a strong partnership with your doctor is one of the most
with your doctor is one of the most
with your doctor is one of the most important steps you can take in
important steps you can take in
important steps you can take in protecting your health but the majority
protecting your health but the majority
protecting your health but the majority of us will undergo major medical
of us will undergo major medical
of us will undergo major medical procedures without doing our homework
procedures without doing our homework
procedures without doing our homework without seeking the expert opinions of
without seeking the expert opinions of
without seeking the expert opinions of other doctors without touching base with
other doctors without touching base with
other doctors without touching base with other patients I want you to think for a
other patients I want you to think for a
other patients I want you to think for a minute how did I choose my doctor was it
minute how did I choose my doctor was it
minute how did I choose my doctor was it the recommendation of a friend because
the recommendation of a friend because
the recommendation of a friend because the doctor was nice and didn’t nag them
the doctor was nice and didn’t nag them
the doctor was nice and didn’t nag them about certain lifestyle choices was it
about certain lifestyle choices was it
about certain lifestyle choices was it the first doctor you could find in an
the first doctor you could find in an
the first doctor you could find in an alphabetical list you could get an
alphabetical list you could get an
alphabetical list you could get an appointment with first female you could
appointment with first female you could
appointment with first female you could find did you do any additional research
find did you do any additional research
find did you do any additional research on your doctor when you’re renovating a
on your doctor when you’re renovating a
on your doctor when you’re renovating a room in your house do you hire the first
room in your house do you hire the first
room in your house do you hire the first contractor that you were recommended or
contractor that you were recommended or
contractor that you were recommended or do you do a bit of homework to ensure
do you do a bit of homework to ensure
do you do a bit of homework to ensure you’re making the best choice why aren’t
you’re making the best choice why aren’t
you’re making the best choice why aren’t we placing the same value in our bodies
we placing the same value in our bodies
we placing the same value in our bodies and our health when we’re putting our
and our health when we’re putting our
and our health when we’re putting our lives in the hands of a doctor’s now if
lives in the hands of a doctor’s now if
lives in the hands of a doctor’s now if you have a doctor you’ve been seeing how
you have a doctor you’ve been seeing how
you have a doctor you’ve been seeing how would you describe your relationship is
would you describe your relationship is
would you describe your relationship is your doctor a good listener did they
your doctor a good listener did they
your doctor a good listener did they help you piece together and tell your
help you piece together and tell your
help you piece together and tell your story would you share secrets with your
story would you share secrets with your
story would you share secrets with your doctor that might be impacting your
doctor that might be impacting your
doctor that might be impacting your health how many of you have asked dr.
health how many of you have asked dr.
health how many of you have asked dr. Google a question you would never ask
Google a question you would never ask
Google a question you would never ask your actual doctor better yet how many
your actual doctor better yet how many
your actual doctor better yet how many of you have lied to your doctor or
of you have lied to your doctor or
of you have lied to your doctor or conceal certain details unfortunately
conceal certain details unfortunately
conceal certain details unfortunately many of us will lie to our doctors in
many of us will lie to our doctors in
many of us will lie to our doctors in fear of judgment and embarrass
fear of judgment and embarrass
fear of judgment and embarrass now I hate to admit this on stage but
now I hate to admit this on stage but
now I hate to admit this on stage but I’ve even lied to my doctor I was once
I’ve even lied to my doctor I was once
I’ve even lied to my doctor I was once asked if I had ever been exposed to
asked if I had ever been exposed to
asked if I had ever been exposed to secondhand smoke and images of the two
secondhand smoke and images of the two
secondhand smoke and images of the two packs today my dad used to smoke with me
packs today my dad used to smoke with me
packs today my dad used to smoke with me in the car and the backseat flashed
in the car and the backseat flashed
in the car and the backseat flashed before my eyes but I adamantly replied
before my eyes but I adamantly replied
before my eyes but I adamantly replied no never why it was a split second
no never why it was a split second
no never why it was a split second reaction and I was actually surprised
reaction and I was actually surprised
reaction and I was actually surprised given what I do that I lied but because
given what I do that I lied but because
given what I do that I lied but because I have a crazy family history and try to
I have a crazy family history and try to
I have a crazy family history and try to pretend to be invincible and lead a
pretend to be invincible and lead a
pretend to be invincible and lead a healthy lifestyle I didn’t want
healthy lifestyle I didn’t want
healthy lifestyle I didn’t want something that I thought was so trivial
something that I thought was so trivial
something that I thought was so trivial to be a documented strike against me I
to be a documented strike against me I
to be a documented strike against me I didn’t feel comfortable enough with my
didn’t feel comfortable enough with my
didn’t feel comfortable enough with my doctor to share that important
doctor to share that important
doctor to share that important information so what happens when we lie
information so what happens when we lie
information so what happens when we lie concealing truth concealing this story
concealing truth concealing this story
concealing truth concealing this story can actually work against us it can lead
can actually work against us it can lead
can actually work against us it can lead to the wrong diagnosis a misdiagnosis
to the wrong diagnosis a misdiagnosis
to the wrong diagnosis a misdiagnosis and even the wrong treatment choosing
and even the wrong treatment choosing
and even the wrong treatment choosing the right doctor is one of the most
the right doctor is one of the most
the right doctor is one of the most important medical decisions you will
important medical decisions you will
important medical decisions you will make and finding a lifelong health
make and finding a lifelong health
make and finding a lifelong health partner you trust and respect and can
partner you trust and respect and can
partner you trust and respect and can build a relationship with over time is
build a relationship with over time is
build a relationship with over time is fundamental and if you aren’t connecting
fundamental and if you aren’t connecting
fundamental and if you aren’t connecting with your current doctor then it’s time
with your current doctor then it’s time
with your current doctor then it’s time to find a new one partner connection is
to find a new one partner connection is
to find a new one partner connection is the heart of the tango where information
the heart of the tango where information
the heart of the tango where information flows back and forth medicine is a
flows back and forth medicine is a
flows back and forth medicine is a sensual science where it’s important
sensual science where it’s important
sensual science where it’s important that we gather data about the patient
that we gather data about the patient
that we gather data about the patient through touch and other senses
through touch and other senses
through touch and other senses ironically the Latin derivative of tango
ironically the Latin derivative of tango
ironically the Latin derivative of tango is tan Jetta which means to touch
mastering the art and science of the
mastering the art and science of the patient-doctor tango requires us to
patient-doctor tango requires us to
patient-doctor tango requires us to combine the patient’s story the physical
combine the patient’s story the physical
combine the patient’s story the physical exam of the body the doctors medical
exam of the body the doctors medical
exam of the body the doctors medical expertise and the tests and diagnostics
expertise and the tests and diagnostics
expertise and the tests and diagnostics performed in a unit fine diagnosis and
performed in a unit fine diagnosis and
performed in a unit fine diagnosis and once that diagnosis is made it’s
once that diagnosis is made it’s
once that diagnosis is made it’s important that we translate that back
important that we translate that back
important that we translate that back into the language and the context of
into the language and the context of
into the language and the context of that patients life so that they
that patients life so that they
that patients life so that they understand their condition and can make
understand their condition and can make
understand their condition and can make the most appropriate treatment decision
the most appropriate treatment decision
the most appropriate treatment decision based on that understanding many
based on that understanding many
based on that understanding many patients are forced to learn a new
patients are forced to learn a new
patients are forced to learn a new language when they enter the healthcare
language when they enter the healthcare
language when they enter the healthcare system for the first time but it’s
system for the first time but it’s
system for the first time but it’s important we provide subtitles to that
important we provide subtitles to that
important we provide subtitles to that foreign flick
foreign flick
foreign flick connection is the conversation between
connection is the conversation between
connection is the conversation between the patient story in the language of
the patient story in the language of
the patient story in the language of Medicine the patient-doctor relationship
Medicine the patient-doctor relationship
Medicine the patient-doctor relationship is the cornerstone of health and healing
is the cornerstone of health and healing
is the cornerstone of health and healing and you control a very important piece
and you control a very important piece
and you control a very important piece to that puzzle your life story is
to that puzzle your life story is
to that puzzle your life story is critical now I can’t rewrite history and
critical now I can’t rewrite history and
critical now I can’t rewrite history and change my past or the countless lives of
change my past or the countless lives of
change my past or the countless lives of the mothers fathers siblings spouses
the mothers fathers siblings spouses
the mothers fathers siblings spouses whose voices weren’t heard but I can
whose voices weren’t heard but I can
whose voices weren’t heard but I can write a new chapter and it goes
write a new chapter and it goes
write a new chapter and it goes something like this once upon a time we
something like this once upon a time we
something like this once upon a time we each learned how to tango with our
each learned how to tango with our
each learned how to tango with our doctors and we lived happily ever after
doctors and we lived happily ever after
doctors and we lived happily ever after [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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