We Are Advocates

Why Doesn’t Your Doctor Know About New Research?

Do you ever wonder why you seem to know more about your illness than your doctor?  Are you frustrated because your doctor is unwilling to let you try a new treatment protocol?  If you have one of the “controversial” illnesses like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, are you puzzled as to why some doctors still refuse to believe they exist despite piles of research proving distinctive physiological abnormalities? 

According to Dr. Kent Holtorf, the answer to all of these questions is: because most doctors do not read medical journals.  And even when they do happen to learn of new research, they are resistant to anything that they did not learn in medical school.  That’s not just opinion.  It’s the conclusion of a number of studies and articles published in the aforementioned unread medical journals. 

In the doctors’ defense, their lack of interest in new scientific knowledge is not totally a matter of apathy.  They are so overloaded with patients and paperwork, there just isn’t enough time to keep up.  And the insurance reimbursement system in America not only doesn’t help the situation, it actually encourages and even forces physicians to provide less than adequate care.  The worst doctors are rewarded financially because they see more patients, order fewer costly tests, and prescribe less expensive treatments.

Unfortunately, it is the patients who suffer.  We fight for new research only to have the results sit in some medical journal, read only by other researchers and a handful of truly dedicated physicians.  The result?  According to a National Institute of Health study, “The lag between the discovery of more effective forms of treatment and their incorporation into routine patient care averages 17 years.”  So we, the patients, suffer needlessly for 17 years while we wait for new discoveries to slowly leak into mainstream medicine.   

For more information, read “Why Doesn’t My Doctor Know This?” by Kent Holtorf, MD.

What Can We Do?

Is there anything we can do to make a difference?  We may not be able to make a significant impact on the medical community as a whole, but we can make a difference in our own personal healthcare.  We MUST take charge and manage our own healthcare. 

Find the latest research on your particular illness and take it to your doctor.  If you can’t get a copy of an entire journal article, at least print out the research abstract.  Ask your doctor to read the study so you can discuss it with him on your next appointment.  Also ask that it be included in your medical file.  If your doctor refuses to even look at new research, then it’s time to find another doctor –– and let him know why you’re leaving. 

To learn more about when it’s time to fire your doctor, read “The Patient as a Consumer” by Teri Robert.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Welcome Karen and Stacy!

Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Karen Lee Richards and Stacy Stone, both writers and patient advocates. They're joining me here to write about issues important to patients working toward the best possible healthcare and health.

Karen Lee Richards’ career as a writer and patient advocate grew out of her determination to learn more about her own illnesses. Karen first became ill in 1989, but it would be seven more years before she finally received an accurate diagnosis. As she began to talk with other fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (aka myalgic encephalopathy) patients, Karen discovered that her experience was not unusual. At that time it was taking an average of approximately five to seven years for someone to be diagnosed with one of these illnesses. Understanding the frustration, fear and anguish patients go through during those years of not knowing what is wrong with them, Karen decided to do whatever she could to raise awareness about FM and ME/CFS. You can find Karen at ChronicPainConnection and  KarenLeeRichards.com.

 

Stacy Stone developed TMJ disorder when she was mauled by a neighbor's dog in 1992. The disorder causes her symptoms ranging from migraine headaches, to chronic facial pain and vertigo. She has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder from the dog attack, chronic daily headaches and migraines, malocclusion from improper orthodontics, degenerative disc disorder in her neck, and various neuropathies.. all of which were symptoms of a much bigger problem, TMJ disorder.

All of this led Stacy to begin working as a patient advocate. She has been the executive director of the non-profit organization, TMJ Friends since its inception in April 2005. They have about 600 members and are growing every day. Stacy has been blogging since 2004 and recently joined the team on ChronicPainConnection, part of the HealthCentral Network.