Patients Rising continues to strive to develop educational tools and resources for our patients living with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Through our Voices of Value blog and Patients Rising University, we have curated practical information to support patients as they face health issues while navigating our healthcare system. Here are some of our most-read articles in 2021:
Understanding Thyroid Diseases:
This article provides an overview of the various diseases that affect the thyroid gland, including their causes and risk factors. The article also provides a self-testing preventive-care regimen that can provide a clue to abnormalities with the thyroid gland.
Here is a personal story of a patient diagnosed with a thyroid condition, among many others.
Understanding the Care and Symptoms of Dysautonomia:
With a detailed-dive into this nervous-system disorder, this article includes information on symptoms to look out for, the different types of dysautonomia, diagnostic tests, and disease management, since there is no cure for the disease.
Reliable Sources for Online Medical Information:
This is a much older article that continues to receive traction. Here you will find tips on trustworthy medical resources that provide information on overall healthcare, specific medications, and medical procedures.
We also have a ‘tip sheet’ on websites that are a definite no-no for medical information.
Your Best Defense: Letter of Medical Necessity:
We arm our readers with a very useful tool to fight insurance denials: the letter of medical necessity. The letter, typically written by the treating doctor (or by the patient, but signed-off by their doctor), has a singular purpose of proving that a test or treatment is vital for the patient. The article provides details on the specific content of the letter and where it should be sent.
COVID-19 and Chronic Illness:
A catalogue of the chronic conditions that increase a person’s risk of developing COVID-19, this article informed our readers on the ‘why’? Media reports and government guidelines and advisories highlighted how immunocompromised individuals are highly susceptible to the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which is responsible for COVID-19)—this article explains why that happens.
Of course, you can explore these articles and more—share your story, learn to advocate—on our website.
Surabhi Dangi-Garimella, Ph.D. is a biologist with academic research experience, who brings her skills and knowledge to the health care communications world. She provides writing and strategic support to non-profit groups via her consultancy, SDG AdvoHealth, LLC.