Unheard...

 

I sort of found an article this morning.  Actually, I've noticed a repeating topic in articles.  None of them stay on the subject long enough to bother citing.  The matter is that many HIV patients feel unheard by their healthcare providers.   Even if everything is going well & they're satisfied with their provider, many still feel as if they, themselves & their situations aren't really being heard, seen or addressed.

Part of the problem is patient's don't always know how, or that they even can push to be better heard.  Some of it is, doctors aren't really trained to hear their patients, but only examine them from a medical perspective.   The matter only worsens over time.  

This situation isn't unique to HIV patients.  Many people, especially the chronically ill, often get shuffled along.   Many pieces address how this is worse for older patients, women, people of color & those who can't easily communicate. 

We need to teach people, as patients,  to advocate for themselves.  For those with these patients, it's important to know when it's necessary to stand up for them.   Doctors need to understand these people are individuals, not toy blocks that all stack the same way.   Lack of communication is the issue.  Maybe it can be remedied.

Cya...