A recent article in American Medical News is right on target. According to the article, when patients take a more active role in their own healthcare (frequently using information technology as a tool), doctors can contain costs and improve outcomes, even as their own patient loads are increasing.

The writer quotes our own Dr. Greene, who is now the president of the Society of Participatory Medicine. “Physicians ‘are afraid this is something that will cost them time and money, and it will create arguments with patients,’ Dr. Greene said. ‘But when this is done correctly, it's something that actually makes a richer and deeper conversation and really leverages the expertise of the physician in a more powerful way than before and can actually save time and money.’”

I experienced my own revelation about participating in my healthcare decisions when I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago (click here to read the whole story). Now Dr. Greene and I are both proud to be strong and vocal advocates of patients’ rights and roles in their own healthcare decisions.