In many instances in life, the adage: "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" - is accurate. This is not necessarily intended to imply that the more you complain the more you get (or the better the services), but rather that a certain degree of presence or involvement enhances the quality of the results and information that are attained. And even if it doesn't move the treatment or results needle one bit, you tend to feel better that at least you've tried to make a difference.
This practice is most advantageous in a hospital situation. Again, the goal is not to out-doctor the doctor with a veneer of WebMD medical "expertise" (no professional of any ilk would respond favorably to that approach), but rather to demonstrate your interest, concern, and willingness to patiently learn along with the various doctors on a given case as they too wade through the mountains of data and myriad possibilities of a diagnosis - especially when there can be so many contributing factors. Admittedly, some people just can't always be there to hear what each respective specialty doctor has to say about the overall status of the patient (they always seem to come on rounds when no family members are around). But when one or more relatives can be in the room, it's good for the patient, the family and the Healthcare Providers (HCP) team to see familial support. It may not have any medical affect on the prognosis, but it can be very therapeutic for all involved (patient and family).
Though not applied to rectify waiting interminably on a restaurant cue for a table or to remedy a plate of cold french fries, this pro-activity can also be beneficial when exercised in the world of education - on behalf of your child. Not manifest in the recent growing trend of crazy lawsuits and endless subpoenas, but in subtle/humane small ways that show the various educators that you care about your child's education and that you care about (appreciate) their educators as well. Write notes of thanks or questions back to the given teacher on your students' homework, show up for parent-teacher conferences and have real compliments/concerns ready to discuss, be visible at after-school activities or other occasions that show you're not there for everything, but you're doing the most that you can to demonstrate to your teachers and your child how much you genuinely care. This kind of commitment won't turn a “D” into an “A,” but it will often address/arrest a trend of “D's” and show that you are trying to identify any issues or challenges before they get out of hand.
The value of "early intervention" is critical in all walks of life - and will always pay off in one form or another in the long run (cuz that's what life is the long run).
