From Flu Shots to Full-Time Job: When Healthcare Gets Complicated
Healthcare in the US is a painful subject for most Americans. You only realize how painful it is when your healthcare extends beyond an annual visit to your primary care provider or pharmacy for a flu shot. When illness becomes a part of your everyday life, you’re suddenly thrown into a vortex of doctor’s offices, labs, imaging centers, insurance denials and countless hours in the waiting rooms and on the phone. Scheduling, confirming, checking, rescheduling—ensuring everyone’s on the same page can be exhausting. Only then do you understand why people complain about how broken or confusing our healthcare system is.
It's the System
If that’s your situation, you’re not alone, and you’re likely not doing anything wrong. It’s not you, and it’s not even the healthcare providers. Yes, there are some bad apples, but for the most part, everyone wants the best outcomes. It’s the system. Despite all the advances and automation meant to make healthcare more efficient and safe, there are still so many gaps and traps. For those of us in the healthcare field, the gaps are a given, and knowing what we know is terrifying. The saying “ignorance is bliss” might apply in many areas of life, but when it comes to our health, ignorance can be costly.
Why Vigilance Matters
As someone who’s been part of the system, seen the processes, close calls, and actual mistakes, my brain is constantly on high alert when someone I care about is seeking care. It’s like being a parent of a toddler who just started walking or a child learning to ride a bike. You know falling down is not a matter of if, but when. You’re constantly hovering, hoping it won’t be a really bad fall, sometimes preventing it altogether, and sometimes being there just in time to ensure a seamless recovery.
What I learned
Here's what I learned: When anyone gets sick, it’s crucial to have someone in your life to look out for gaps and errors, prevent those really bad falls, and ensure quick recovery from the inevitable mild ones. Someone to keep you safe, ask the right questions, worry on your behalf, and speak up for you. If you have such a person, treasure them. They’re guarding your health and well-being, likely making sacrifices to be there for you.
Help Is Available
Nobody should navigate their illness AND the US healthcare system alone. Those are two separate beasts. If you don’t have someone in your life who can advocate for you or guide you when you feel lost, reach out for help. If you’ve been the right-hand person for someone going through a medical challenge, but the sacrifices have become too much, or despite your best efforts your loved one isn't getting proper care, there is help available. Patient advocates across the country are ready to walk that journey with you. Some may be available through your insurance, hospital, non-profit organizations, or independently. They might be called health advocates, patient care advocates, healthcare navigators, or other titles.
The US healthcare system has made it really difficult to be a patient, but you are not alone, and it doesn’t have to be this hard. Reach out and let's figure out if I can help, or find another advocate who will. I wish you all the best on this journey!
