Mission: Transform the Culture of Medicine

Today I'm proud to share that a special online journal has launched: the Journal of Participatory Medicine. The simple goal is to learn what methods really work for patient-doctor collaboration, and in doing so transform the culture of medicine.

Why is this important? It turns out that doctors can't do it alone. This isn't news, and "e-patients" have been at it for years now, improving their own outcomes and the outcomes of others by supplementing and often going beyond what their doctors can alone do for them. Participatory Medicine is a new approach that encourages and expects active patient involvement in all aspects of care.

Have a look at the launch issue: www.jopm.org. It's peer reviewed by doctors and patients.

How do you want to participate in your care? (Leave comments!)

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Comments

[drricklippin]

YUP- It's paradigm shift time in Medicine for many reasons

We need to apply the same boldness and creativity to health care change as we are to the energy and environmental movements.

I wrote an essay which was published on this in Nov 2008 for then President Elect Obama

If you would like to see it write to me at [e-mail]

Be Well,

Dr. Rick Lippin
Soouthampton,Pa

[writerkate]

I have a terrific doctor who is always open to input from patients, eager to discuss diseases and conditions and alternative treatments, willing to use non-standard approaches including nutritional therapies, etc. I'm not only going to check this out, I'm going to pass the website along to him. Sounds as if it will be right up his alley!

[PlaceboStudman]

What an amazing idea, and I must say, it's about time! As a disabled man who has been dealing with the medical community all my life, I have learned all too well how patients can teach their doctors as much as doctors can teach their patient about good health practices.

A doctor may know *THE* body better than most patients, but no doctor knows YOUR body better than you do, and doctors have just as much responsibility to learn about each individual's issues as the patient has the responsibility to learn about the different potential treatments for those health issues