Anne Polta reports on health care for the West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota.  Her personal experiences as a patient include treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 38 and an adverse medical event resulting in injury.  She has covered health care – specifically patient engagement and patient safety – for more than 20 years.  This post originally appeared on her HealthBeat blog on March 30, 2012 and you can follow her on Twitter via @a_polta_wctrib.

My Weekend as an Emergency Patient and What I Learned

Anne Polta | May 13, 2013
If you want to see what health care is really like, there’s no better way than by becoming a patient yourself. To paraphrase the wisdom of Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the things you’ll learn!”

Guest Blog: When Families Clash During the Doctor Visit

Anne Polta | April 24, 2012
Family togetherness is usually a good thing but sometimes it's a source of conflict, and new research suggests doctors can be slow to recognize when families disagree about the best course of care.

Guest Blog: Defining Patient Engagement

Anne Polta | April 3, 2012
Everyone in health care is talking these days about patient engagement, but a funny thing happened on the way to the discussion: There doesn't seem to be a widely agreed-on definition of what this actually means.

Guest Blog: Giving the Patient Bad News

Anne Polta | March 13, 2012
The patient, a young rodeo rider from rural Ohio, lies in a hospital bed, sick and in pain. The doctor has the results of his bone marrow biopsy and the news isn't good.

Guest Blog: A New Breed of Doctor

Anne Polta | March 5, 2012
Starting in 2015, students who aspire to become doctors will be tested on more than just their knowledge of the sciences. They'll also need to have a good understanding of psychology, sociology and biology and how these forces help shape individual health and behavior.

Guest Blog: Opening Up the Doctor's Notebook

Anne Polta | January 13, 2012
If you could see what your doctor wrote about you in your medical record, would this hurt or enhance your relationship? A new survey found that the majority of patients ' more than 90 percent ' are supportive and even enthusiastic about being able to read the doctor's notes. But among physicians, the reaction was mixed.

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