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The Patient Doctor Tango | Sarah Krüg | TEDxBrussels


what if I told you that each and every

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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