Stories

About Our Story Project

Nothing is more powerful than the stories of patients in demonstrating the challenges our current health care system poses to patients, in particular, vulnerable older adults with multiple chronic health conditions and their family caregivers.

By sharing your story, you are helping build this movement and demonstrate for policy makers and the public the burden placed on patients and family members when care is not patient-centered.

We are gathering stories that illustrate a variety of interactions with the health care system. We want to highlight your experiences and the elements of our health care system you most hope to improve.

Examples

  • Your experience with poor coordination of your care among health care providers (for example, conflicting diagnoses, duplicate tests and procedures, contradictory medical information or lack of communication with doctors)
  • Your experience with a medication management (for example, conflicting medications)
  • Your experience suffering a health consequence because of poor communication among providers or a lack of time with your doctor
  • Your experience with unnecessary hospitalizations and a lack of transitional care and follow-up (including, for example, being re-admitted back to a hospital within a short time following an initial stay, or no one evaluating how you will manage at home once you leave the hospital)
  • Your frustrations as a family caregiver in trying to coordinate and/or provide care for your older relative or friend (for example, needing to take on the responsibility of coordinating medical records/physicians/medical appointments/prescription medications, or having difficulty locating and accessing community services and supports, such as transportation or in-home care)
  • Your experience as a family caregiver whose own life has been adversely affected (physically, emotionally or financially) by the caregiving experience (for example, having to quit a job to give care, paying out-of-pocket for health care expenses, or declining health leaving two patients instead of one).

The Campaign for Better Care will use some of these stories in Campaign materials, on its website, with media, at speaking engagements, and in meetings with policy makers. We will contact you prior to using your story to get your permission and will maintain your privacy and anonymity if you desire.

If you would like to talk with a member of our staff regarding your story, its usage, or our campaign, please click here.