Patient Self-Advocacy with Family Physician Dr. Catherine Harmon-Toomer

In this episode, Family Physician Dr. Catherine Harmon-Toomer & I discuss Patient Self-Advocacy including answers to the following questions:

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- How did Dr. Toomer's own health scare lead her to a career as a patient advocate coach?
- Why does Dr. Toomer use weight loss / management as the center of her practice?
- Why don't patients visit a Lifestyle Medicine or Preventive Medicine doctor before they become ill?
- Why do patients with multiple medical problems sometimes have difficulty coming to a diagnosis or feeling satisfied with the overall management of their care?
- Why is it important for your doctor to be a good problem solver?
- How do you find a doctor who is aligned with your goals for your care?
- How can patients advocate for themselves?
- What is the bio-psycho-social approach to healthcare?
- Where do you begin to evaluate patients who have been to many other specialists but have not come to a diagnosis?
- Why are patients frustrated with their healthcare?
- What can patients do to make their doctor's visit valuable and efficient?
- How can improving communication lead to improved healthcare?
- How can advocating for yourself change the direction of your care?
- What should you do when you feel your symptoms are being minimized or you feel like you're not getting proper care?
- Do all hospitals have a patient advocate I can reach out to if I can't advocate for myself?
- How did Dr. Susan Moore's illness, hospitalization and death amplify the need for patient advocacy?
- How do systemic racial, gender and social injustices contribute to gaps in patient advocacy?
- What can healthcare workers do to cultivate a patient-centered environment? 

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For more from Dr. Toomer check out:
Web: www.chtoomermd.com
FB: facebook.com/c.harmon.toomer.md
IG: instagram.com/toomer_md
Twitter: twitter.com/dr_toomer_md
Clubhouse: @cathyT.md

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Thanks so much for listening!  

If you enjoyed the show and want to hear more, please leave a review, subscribe and share!

You can always find more information on my website:

www.drlexlifestylemedicine.com

and....

If you love the music, you can find more at:

www.therealmichaelvm.com/music

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All my love & gratitude to:
my guest: Dr.  Catherine Harmon-Toomer,
my inspiration: my patients,
my idea guy & confidence booster: Edward,
my intro crew: Izzy, Lance & Lucia,
my tech & equipment guy: Pop,
my angel: Susie,
my music & sound guy: Mike VM,
my mascot: Jules, 
my creative director & cheerleader: Emily,
my love, Michael.