Preface

Welcome. This is an activity meant to cultivate empathy for the situations that our patients may endure as they seek medical care for chronic conditions within the United States. As you work your way through this exercise, there will be parts of the story that may be triggering. Please take the time to care for your own mental and emotional health as needed, and step away when you need to. We will reflect on this exercise together as a group.

Your GOAL as you put yourself in the character's shoes, is to maintain your health condition to the best of your ability before it manifests as serious complications.

The PURPOSE of this exercise is for us as healthcare providers to understand the numerous barriers to adequate treatment that our patients face, even when they are under our care.