Now Doctors Are Scoring Us
Now doctors are scoring us. In the hot seat for most of their professional lives, medical professionals are now being asked to rate how well patients rate, following through on the directions they're given to take medication, not skip screenings and, worst of all, wind up back in the hospital for what they were treated for in the first place. According to The Wall Street Journal, doctors are now being asked to rank how "activated" they think patients will be. "'Patient activation'" is a measure of how engaged patients will be in their own care," the WSJ reports. "Patients who are highly activated have better outcomes and incur lower costs, studies show, even though as many as 40% of Americans lack the skills, knowledge and confidence to become model patients." Why are doctors doing this? Scores make it easier to customize information, coaching and other interventions. "The aim is for patients, rather than feel overwhelmed by...