My video interview with Connie Jorsvik: The “Patient Pathways” workshop

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥  Heart Sisters on Blue Sky

I love how former cardiac nurse-turned-independent Patient Navigator Connie Jorsvik introduced our recent online conversation about women, heart disease and serious illness that was broadcast on her Patient Pathways website. Connie began with this profoundly true observation:

“When I was a cardiac nurse, it always seemed like more women than men were admitted after Christmas. Often, these women had been experiencing cardiac symptoms for days – and even weeks. Women tend to put off seeking treatment because we so often put ourselves last on our priority list – and there is no  bigger time for everyone else’s priorities than the holidays!”

♥  If you missed this workshop, you can read Connie’s article called “The Silent Threat of Women’s Heart Disease” – which includes many highlights of our conversation.

♥  You can check out Connie’s comprehensive Patient Pathways site for more info about one of Canada’s first ever independent patient advocacy and healthcare navigation providers. While there, you can sign up for her free healthcare-navigation newsletters which she promises will bring you relief and answers to many questions. And you can also order her helpful book called “Navigating the BC Healthcare System – a Step by Step Guide“.

♥  You can watch this one-hour video of our wonderfully wide-ranging online workshop conversation:

Being asked to speak about women and heart disease at one of Connie’s popular online workshops for patients and family members was a terrific experience for me (made even better by getting to meet her IN PERSON over coffee a few days later while she was visiting a friend here in Victoria).

Thank you so much, Connie – for inviting me to speak to your group at this event, but especially for all of the good work you are doing in Vancouver and beyond to help patients and their family members facing serious injury, illness or end-of-life issues – when they need it most.

♥

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My book A Woman’s Guide to Living with Heart Disease  (published by Johns Hopkins University Press) focuses mostly on the overwhelming reality of becoming a heart patient (and by the way, would make a good Christmas gift for all freshly-diagnosed heart patients!) You can ask for it at your favourite bookshop (please support your local independent booksellers!) or find it online (paperback, hardcover or e-book) at Amazon, or order it directly from my publisher (use their code HTWN to save 30% off the list price).

Q:  Could you relate to Connie’s thoughts about women putting others first – especially during the holiday season?