Learning Happens When We are NOT in Crisis

When I started this post, it was not suppose to be a memo to healthcare providers, but it ended up as one. If you are a patient, read and let me know if you agree with my experiences. 

I have an bachelors in Sociology and worked in Mental Health for several years before moving on to the medical field and eventually education. I am now working on my Masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis. If there is one thing I have learned working with children and families in crisis, its that learning does not happen when in crisis....or just after crisis. Learning happens at the baseline. I really wish this was something that medical doctors were taught or understood. When you are giving someone news or a prognosis that causes them worry or stress, that is unfortunately not the best time to educate them on their condition. I'm not saying you should not give them some information and answer the questions, but the chances of them retaining the information goes down considerably. 

If someone has a chronic illness or disease, why not try to teach them about their condition when they are at baseline? Why not spend those 6 month or yearly check ups talking about the specifics of their condition in ways that they can understand and process. How does the person learn best? You can show me all day long, but I need it written. I learn by reading. My husband on the other hand, needs visual models. This would also be the optimal time to discuss any long term interventions that may be beneficial such as diet and exercise. Please...don't just say get more exercise and eat healthier. Give concrete advice, if that is not your wheel house, then give them the resources they need....such as a referral to a dietician or trainer that understands the restrictions of their condition. In my experience, too often I am bounced between providers, no one wanting to address the need. I've had my PCP tell me to take something up with my cardiologist, because they were not sure if a medicine/treatment/activity etc would effect my heart and my cardiologist tell me I need to ask my PCP because they don't treat the condition. I'm guessing a trainer or dietician or other specialist would need to be highly specialized to take my heart condition into consideration when making a plan for me. 

Wow..I jumped off track there for a minute. 

The point of what I'm not so eloquently saying, is that as a child and an an adult, it seems that most of the teaching about my condition has happened when there is a change. For me personally, the change puts me in an emotional crisis and I am not able to retain the information which leads me to do a lot of googling and not having a clear picture of my own health concerns and needs. There is a lot of science and data to show that learning happens easier at baseline and taking in to consideration how the learner best learns. This should be med school and nursing 101.