From ‘Informed Patient’ Care to ‘Patient Informed’ Care”

From ‘Informed Patient’ Care to ‘Patient Informed’ Care”: " In a soon-to-be-published article, Ruth Gardiner argues, we are seeing a shift from the ‘informed patient’ which has resulted from improved access to healthcare information, primarily from the Web, to the ‘participative patient’ as we move into Web 2.0 territory.

This is a “major turning point” according to Gardiner, “that could present greater challenges for healthcare professionals, organizations and the patient or client.” How will providers adapt? What impact will Google et al. have in their attempts to “own” the health care consumer? And how will even newer information technologies — such as digital video change the healthcare landscape, she asks.

The distinction Gardiner makes is an important one. "