Heather Shorten, founder and executive director of Pompe Alliance, shares why speaking up in healthcare can feel difficult and how support staff can help patients feel heard and understood.
Transcript
I would first say to them, “I’m sorry that this is happening to you.” because I know that that could be very frustrating.
Speaking up can have that feeling of “I’m being a difficult patient.” And so I would advise them again, you know, try speaking with the nurse, the social worker, those support staff people at the hospital.
Because a lot of times when you talk with the nurses, they’re absolutely willing to have conversations with the doctors. And so I would absolutely advise them to utilize those support people.
