The Difficult Patient: The Impact of this Label on Patient Experiences with Care

In healthcare, the label “difficult patient” is often used, but mostly from the perspective of providers. Little is known about how patients themselves view this label and its impact on their care. This community conversation that dives into the stories and experiences of patients who’ve encountered this label.

Dr. Malynnda Johnson discusses how patient’s perspectives often differ sharply from those of healthcare professionals and reveal how being labeled as “difficult” can harm their identity and the quality of care they receive. Join us as we unpack these insights and consider what they mean for patient advocacy and better communication in healthcare.

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About The Speaker:
Dr. Malynnda Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, teaching primarily health communication and media studies. She completed her PhD in 2012 at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. Currently, she teaches interviewing and counseling, persuasion, interpersonal communication, health communication, media criticism, and cross-cultural communication. Additionally, she has recently launched her consulting firm, Compassionate Navigation LLC. There, she actively works within the medical field, offers consults for patient advocates, and helps patients and families navigate the difficult conversations they face. While she works with anyone in need, she often works with minority groups such as neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ populations. When she is not writing, teaching, or serving her community, she is frequently found with her two dogs hiking or camping in the woods of Indiana.

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