That's a quote I see often on paperweights, posters, coasters and t-shirts. Never give it much thought other than thinking I'd love to be a writer, but the inability to do anything for long periods of time totally shreds that.
However, in my car the other day, on my way home from work, I realized what I would absolutely LOVE to do if I could make a living at it: I'd love to help people navigate healthcare.
I guess the job would probably need a snazzy title like "Patient Advocate" but hospitals already have those. But, I wouldn't be working for the hospital. I would be working for the patient. For the patient's family. For the people who need healthcare and are having trouble getting it, or getting it paid for, or even understanding it.
When I went through nursing school, one of the things they hammered into us was patient education. Your patient was to know what tests they were having, why they were having them, what medications they were getting and why, what their diagnoses mean, what doctors they would need to follow-up with and what the prescriptions were that we discharged them on.
This seems to be a thing of the past. I cannot tell you how many people call me after getting home from the hospital and ask me what their diagnosis means, or why they sent them home on a medication. When I ask them, "did the nurse not tell you?" They answer, I didn't even see the nurse after the doctor discharged me." Or, " they just told me to sign the form and told me see my doctor in 2 weeks and they'd cover everything with me. What are you supposed to do for that 2 weeks? Just wonder if you are to continue your old meds and then new ones? Wonder if Congestive Heart failure means that your heart is failing and you will die soon?
Then, you have the wrangling you have to do with insurance. I'm going thru it right now. We switched insurance last year THREE TIMES. Once when Chad quit his job (I put us on the insurance thru my employer for 3 months), then the insurance county had, then the insurance that county switched to. So, now they've billed the wrong insurance for some labs and are telling me I have to pay $300, because they won't refile. I don't think so. I've called, written, faxed and emailed and it's taken me about 3 weeks. All for labs in JUNE of last year. Now, find me a 70 year old that could sort all this out. Not gonna happen.
Then, you have people who go to several different doctors. Sure, they take their prescriptions with them, but what if Dr. A thinks you are on Spironolactone because you need to drop fluid from your congestive heart failure, but instead you are on it because of ascites from cirrhosis and they change you to a different medication?? How many people know the exact reason they are on a medication? Very few.
Not everyone would need someone to coordinate their care. Only those with several diagnoses or with medical issues that their insurance is fighting to not pay. Or, even those who have to go to multiple doctors or have frequent hospitalizations.
People call me all the time to ask me questions and it's usually one of the above type questions. It is one of the greatest honors in my life that people trust me enough to ask me these types of questions. No joke. I truly don't mind it, I am just so thankful to have the education and experience to do this. I just wish I could do it on a larger scale and help more people. I know so many people need help in these areas.
So, I guess if I could do anything and not fail, I'd help the folks who are being neglected, forgotten or abused BY our healthcare systems. I guess I'd call myself a Healthcare Navigator or Health Guide. And, if ever I could actually do this full time (rather than calls from friends at random times), I'd call myself lucky and blessed. Of course, I'm that already, so even if I never try, it's okay.
Success has its own worries, too. What's left after you achieve your dream? Did you do enough, dream big enough? And what if the reality doesn't match your dream? Is your dream flexible enough to roll with this? As you stare down success you may come to realize that your dream isn't what you thought it was.
ReplyDeleteI lived both the success and failure side of dreaming recently. When I won the scholarship to attend culinary school it was a blessing and a curse. I was living my dream but the reality didn't match the dream. That disconnect was jarring.
Even more disappointing was other people's reaction. They were genuinely excited for me, but it was obvious that most quickly retreated inside their own heads, spinning their own yarns. It also quickly became tedious that so few people really wanted to hear about mine, instead it became about their dream to open a restaurant or bed and breakfast, so surely I must want to do the same. We go from "I won a Food Network scholarship" to discussing paint colors for a kitchen set on a TV show I had no interest of starring in. It wasn't about me doing this for me and living my dream.
If I had no fear of success or failure, and no need to earn a living, I would open a 20-seat restaurant serving whatever caught my fancy. Guests would pay whatever they felt was appropriate. Cell phones would be strictly banned.