Part One: Things Young Adult Patients Wish Medical Professionals Better Understood

#1: What works for one patient doesn’t always work for another, even if they have the same symptoms/illness.

"…the one size fits all approach shouldn't apply to all aspects of patient care. While efficiency is important, the practice of algorithmic medicine doesn't necessarily lead to better outcomes. In fact, it can lead to missed symptoms, misdiagnoses, and unnecessary tests…when facing patients, it's best to focus on their individual symptoms instead of lumping them into a category."

Source: https://www.carecloud.com/continuum/standardized-care-does-one-size-fit-all-in-medicine/

#2: Just because we are young does not mean we cannot have a serious illness.

"Unlike older patients, younger patients more often experience undertreatment due to their age. Young people 'aren't supposed to' get certain diseases, according to medical books and statistics, but they do — time and time again. Because of this, inappropriate assumptions are made, and they're often dismissed."

Source: https://intivahealth.com/blog/the-rising-problem-of-ageism-in-healthcare/

#3: Mental and physical illness can coexist. They are not mutually exclusive.

#4: When a provider rushes through an appointment, we often feel like we are not cared about and/or our concerns are not being adequately heard.

#5: We may be your patient, but first and foremost we are human. When we are treated in a cold and clinical nature it can often feel apathetic.

#6: We want to feel like you’re working with us on a treatment plan, rather than just being told what and what not to do.