tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377011905665036046.post7158264428690040309..comments2023-10-30T03:58:29.285-07:00Comments on Islands of Excellence: Patient? Consumer? We Need a New WordPat Mastorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12572742020333587763noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377011905665036046.post-9638313317266356712012-06-30T13:21:49.281-07:002012-06-30T13:21:49.281-07:00What a lyrical (not surprising, given your profess...What a lyrical (not surprising, given your profession) and thoughtful response, thank you! I agree...the words themselves are imprecise and incomplete. The phrases you suggest, "men, women and children seeking our care" and "folks receiving medical treatment" are very appropriate...but sadly, mainstream media, bloggers and institutions prefer their descriptors "short". That's why they default to "patient", "consumer", "resident" or "person", as their point of view at the time warrants.<br /><br />Most true is your observation that a new word must convey tender feeling and depth of relationship. I've tried the word "precious" and "irreplaceable" but I think they're a bit too strident for casual use and miss the mark.Pat Mastorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12572742020333587763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377011905665036046.post-77154091537632151662012-06-30T10:39:58.483-07:002012-06-30T10:39:58.483-07:00This is a difficult challenge! As a music therapis...This is a difficult challenge! As a music therapist, the title given to the folks I serve changes by the setting - "resident" in long-term care, "patient" in hospice and hospitals, "client" in general settings. When my dad was going through his round of surgeries and hospital stays, he was just "Dad." I wish we could come up with a term that has the same tender feeling and depth of relationship as a family reference like that. "Person" doesn't cut it, because it is lifeless. "Gentleman" and "lady" are old-fashioned and smack of gender politics, and even "man" and "woman" don't leave room for people who don't identify with either gender. I hate "consumer."<br /><br />In blogging, I tend to default to "elders and caregivers" since most of my folks fall into those groups.<br /><br />So, how about:<br />Folks receiving medical treatment<br />Men, women and/or children seeking our care<br /><br />No, I don't think I can come up with just one word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com