Preparations begin for the fourth year in a row for me to attend PSTM, Plastic Surgery the Meeting in San Diego. This is the annual national conference of plastic surgeons both nationally and internationally to present the latest in plastic surgery techniques. It includes all aspects of plastic surgery, including aesthetic and reconstructive practices. My patient advocacy at Plastic Surgery the Meeting will focus on breast reconstruction.
The Value of Social Media and Patient Advocacy at Plastic Surgery the Meeting
The first year I attended I was the tenderfoot, the novice, wandering the expansive convention center in downtown Los Angeles not even knowing the layout, what sessions I could attend, or the flow of the conference. I opened my nonprofit, DIEPCFoundation.org the month before I attended my first PSTM in September of 2016. Many attendees did not know who I was. However, they recognized me because of my presence on social media through the blog I write about my breast reconstruction Journey.
Social media is a valuable tool for patient advocates. When used responsibly to share evidence-based research, it can connect you to a community that will enhance your work. It certainly has for me in sharing education about all options for breast reconstruction. Take time to plan and schedule tweets, Facebook posts, and add interest to your Instagram feed before you attend any conference. Look at who is presenting and find their Twitter handles. Know what topics will be covered to share educational information from sessions you attend with Facebook groups you are part of. Have fun with some Instagram selfies as you connect to friends, both new and old at the conference.
Networking with Plastic Surgeons at PSTM
This is a time for plastic surgeons to meet each other outside their daily clinic and operating room schedules. The handshakes, hugs, smiles, and greetings at PSTM I observe as a patient advocate tells me these networking opportunities with each other as surgeon colleagues is a valuable part of their lives.
I find great value and true pleasure in networking with the plastic surgeons at the meeting as a patient advocate. I get the joy of seeing the human side of these surgeons who have dedicated their lives to those affected by breast cancer. They ask me questions about how we can best collaborate to improve patient outcomes. We share ideas and formulate new strategies for how to share this education through pertinent channels to patients. They are some of the most fun and polite folks I have had the privilege of engaging with making my work as a patient advocate so rewarding.
Shared Decision Making at Plastic Surgery the Meeting
One of the most important topics for me at PSTM is shared decision-making. I learned the value of shared decision-making from my own plastic reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. He even developed a free app for breast cancer patients to empower them with this tool to have a shared decision-making experience with their health care team. From the Breast Advocate app website:
Shared decision-making occurs when the health care professional and patient work together to make a treatment decision that is best for the patient. ~ BreastAdvocateApp.com
What I have come to appreciate by attending PSTM is the number of attendees interested in the practice of shared decision-making. I received an email from Dr. Raman Mahabir the week before the meeting asking me if I had seen a recent article published on the topic. He mentioned he thought of me when he read it. I was truly touched by his email. Continued support and engagement at PSTM about this important topic can only help advance the patient experience.
I look forward to attending my fourth Plastic Surgery the Meeting as a patient advocate for all options of breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Look for these hashtags this week as you follow the meeting from San Diego and the 88th annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference.
#pstm19
#PlasticSurgery
#BreastReconstruction
#SharedDecisionMaking
#Microsurgery
And my favorite: #PatientAdvocacy
See you in San Diego! #PSTM19
