i) A map as well as an app: A De Facto Map of Health

A consulting - interview room 


Patient:
This all seems quite complicated!

:Healthcare Practitioner

Yes, I can understand that. It is complex and complicated. You're having to take a lot of information in. And.., crucially make a decision that is right for you, as well informed as can be.

Has the app helped?

Patient:
Yes, sure. The app has helped - being in touch with other people - with similar experiences and yet different experiences and stages.

:Healthcare Practitioner

You don't sound fully convinced there..?

 Patient:
Well, someone with a relative - you know...? A health practitioner, erm.. Jo! Well, Jo argued that while the app is useful, for both the community and auto upload of tests... Jo made a joke too: "we need a map as well as an app".

:Healthcare Practitioner

A map - like on your phone? 

Patient:
Well no, not exactly. Jo said in medicine and healthcare there's long been talk and work on 'maps of medicine', atlases of various kinds and maps of where disease outbreaks are - I suppose.

:Healthcare Practitioner

Ah, yes of course. Maps are central in public [ mental ;-) ] health.
I'm not sure how a map can help here - beyond the app?

Patient:
When I said it's complicated - and yes complex too - we discussed how bizarre it is that with something so perplexing on so many levels there's no map! Not even a compass to get your bearings. 

:Healthcare Practitioner

A compass? How on Earth would that help?

 
Patient:
To center things. The whole cussed situation. To weigh up what needs to be thought about, discussed, given up and even grieved for.

:Healthcare Practitioner

I see.

Patient:
Yes, and that's an important point too - as a compass can help orientate us both. And ... are we focussed on your clinical priorities or my domestic and social circumstances. A compass and a map might help capture the context and 'my' health career insofar as what is happening to my life chances at present? ... Yes, I've been reading a bit...

:Healthcare Practitioner

This sounds quite an idea but I'm not sure where we'd begin. Perhaps we can pull some people together to discuss this? When you mentioned centering things in a way that would also help 'ground' things too. The small matters of money and politics that are sat with us already! 

What do you think?

Patient:
Well actually, I think we've got a starting point!