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Consumerism in Healthcare: Shopping for Answers
by Daniel Tague

Editor's Note from Bernice Chu: A highly structure healthcare system may bring many benefits to patients, families, and their employees. However, are there times when the system may be too structured? Is there a tendency for healthcare professionals to treat patients as 'consumers' over time? Daniel Tague explores this interesting topic. It's important for music therapists, and all healthcare professionals, to remain aware of these issues. Feel free to leave your comments in our forum!

The Trouble with Treating Patients as Consumers

Many hospitals and health institutions have been treating patients as "consumers." This mindset seems to help institutions provide better customer service and increase the prominence of patient's rights, but as the article points out, it may be causing some breakdowns in efficient treatment.

Many music therapists work in institutions or facilities where patients are talked about as consumers. Since MTs are part of treatment teams, we should be aware of the pitfalls of pretending that patients are like regular consumers in a retail setting. 

The authors of the article accurately point out that patients are not like regular consumers.  They usually don't choose to "shop" at a hospital or other health facility. They are usually obtaining treatment for a problem or situation that is not of their choosing. 

Many patients and families are also under stress and emotional duress. Although some people (myself included!) might consider shopping to be stressful, these people can probably choose to stop shopping or take a break to reduce their stress! The article makes a good point that you cannot expect people under stress to make clear, quick and correct decisions about their health by putting them independently in the driver's seat as a consumer.

I think that this topic is something to be considered by MTs. Can we make the decision-making process easier for patients? What kind of road-map can we provide patients to help guide them through treatment?

About the Author

Currently pursuing a doctorate in music therapy, Daniel Tague, MME, MT-BC, is a board certified music therapist with a decade of experience in using specially developed music protocols to improve the well being of all ages. Much of this work has been done in public schools as he was the director of a music therapy company. Daniel has given presentations at national, regional and local conferences in the areas of using music and technology, music therapy in the educational setting and music to help in reducing stress. Daniel is also certified in the Health Rhythms drumming protocol that has been shown to significantly increase the production of specific immune system cells. In addition, Daniel has conducted research in using music and relaxation to reduce the anxiety of patients undergoing heart catheterization and pacemaker implantation. He is the author of Music Makes Sense blog. Readers may also follow Daniel's work on facebook.