Defining Care

'Care' is a short word, but it has huge meaning. The word has different meanings, as we find so often in English and in other languages as well. We care about others is one example, while we may also not care what
somebody thinks or says. In the context here, let’s say the meaning of care intersects across a spectrum.

Medical care for hep C

In the context of medical care and all that it encompasses, the meaning grows and is interpreted as mostly clinical in scope. We hear phrases like “best practices” and “standard of care”, and these both have very clinical meanings, along with “protocols” and more.

One can imagine that in a clinical setting, these terms help to identify a process or group of processes that clinicians need to communicate in their work. Some of the same language and terms have spilled out into the non-clinical work in hep C, and if you are diagnosed and linked to care, then you have at least seen or heard some of the language of medicine.

From diagnosis to cure

The science around hep C uses these and other terms more specific to the individual science undertaken. “Cascade of care” comes to mind, and before that, we heard about the “continuum of care”. What do these mean to you? Are they relevant to your care and treatment in any way? These last two speak to the steps from testing, prevention, on to treatment and after care. Unfortunately, there has been gaps in this cascade, or continuum for some people. These gaps can present themselves at any one step or stage, and each one is as important as the first as this a failure in care? Sometimes that does occur, unfortunately.

The level of care varies as well and that can be interpreted in different ways, of course, depending on what is deemed to be essential or reasonable care. It is clear that some people will require more enhanced care in any situation, and hep C is no different. There are people who need the most basic care, while others require extensive care.

Care is a spectrum

Care has many colors in a spectrum, and can be interpreted in many ways. It needs mentioning that some of the best care we can receive is from the people who make up our families and friends, and let’s not forget our peers - the people who have lived experience. Sharing that lived experience can be empowering and can better inform us on what real-world experience can look like. Throughout the full spectrum of care, we need to have a healthy and ample level of empathy and compassion. Without these most basic parts, care becomes mechanical in nature, and we are not machines, none of us. Ticking a box is not empathy, as important as it is sometimes to have that box ticked. Without people caring, there is no true care.