Patient Partners — There’s Strength in Numbers

This week something incredible happened. I took part in a panel discussion at a university with another patient partner.

Why is this amazing? Because this was initiative we took upon ourselves to share our individual strengths for the greater good.

Okay, let me back up a bit. A couple of months ago this patient partner and I met at a healthcare forum we had been invited to attend. We both were unimpressed on how the forum was run, and more importantly, how the voices of patient partners were included (they weren’t). Over dinner, we critiqued ways the current healthcare system is using patients as token participants, discussing ways to engage patients in a more meaningful way.

Basically, over a yummy Malaysian dinner, we solved the problems of the world. Okay, maybe not completley, but we did take ownership of the problem of including patient voices versus just complaining (which really is a pet peeve of mine).

Strengths in Numbers

Being two dynamic women (if we do say so ourselves) we began to look for ways to collaborate. I’m a storyteller who lives in the world of emotions and she is more data and analytical driven. By working on our strengths, we knew there would be no stopping us.