Danbury Commission on Aging March 2015 Meeting – Speaker Presentation

March 10, 2015 - By: Danbury-Seniors

The Commission on Aging for the City of Danbury met on March 10, 2015.  The following is a synopsis of the guest speaker’s presentation on “the importance of being your own advocate at medical appointments.” This excerpt was submitted by Neil Corday, a member of the Danbury Commission on Aging.

Jean Campbell of JF Campbell Consultants was guest speaker at the March 2015 meeting of the Danbury Commission on Aging. Ms. Campbell is a nationally recognized rare disease patient advocate. She served nearly twenty years with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
In 2010 She formed JF Campbell Consultants, specializing in patient advocacy, organizational governance, and patient assistance programs .

Ms. Campbell spoke about the importance of  being your own self advocate at medical appointments.  Years of working with NORD, and her experiences as a caregiver, shaped her ideas and her approach to communicating with doctors.

Highlights of her presentation:

• You are entitled to be well informed about your diagnosis .
  Don’t be afraid to ask questions—it’s your health.
• Get answers directly from your doctor or other healthcare providers.
  Newspaper and magazines articles, and friends’ advice can be supplemental sources.
• Have a dialogue and build a relationship with your doctor.
  It not only helps you, but also builds your doctor’s respect for you.
• Ask questions about proposed tests, treatments, procedures and medications:
  Why do I need it? Are there alternatives? What will it do? Prognosis?
  Complications? Side effects? Interactions with other drugs?
• It’s OK to challenge, to be assertive, to question a doctor’s opinion,
  even to ask where to get a second opinion.
• Bring a notebook and pen, and maybe a family member or trusted friend. Take notes.
• For additional information and guidance, see these websites:

National Institutes of Health: Health and Aging:   (Talking with your Doctor: A Guide for Older People)

AHRQ – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:   (Questions to Ask Your Doctor)

Empowering Patients and Their Advocates  

AARP Healthcare