Learn:

• How to become active, responsible, accountable and vocal in all aspects of your health care.

• Why the "provider knows-best" belief is counterproductive to good medical practice and could endanger your life.

• How to be prepared and have faith in your life experience and your common sense and stop feeling intimidated by places and providers who may appear cold and distant.

None of us would ever consider giving total control of our life savings over to a complete stranger. Yet this is how most of us choose our physicians and entrust them with the future well being of our bodies. We permit doctors to make decisions about the most important aspect of our life, our health, and more often than not, we do not know a thing about their medical acumen.

1. INTRODUCTION
 

•  Acknowledgments
•  Credits
•  About the Author
•  Feedback and Future Editions
•  User Feedback Questionnaire
•  Purpose of the Guide
•  Health Care Providers
•  Active versus Passive Consumers
•  Health, Disability and Chronic Conditions

• Long-term Relationships
• Be Informed
•  Sources of Information
•  Maximizing Your 15-minutes
•  Providing Information
•  Getting and Remembering Information
•    Utilize a Support Person
•    Take Notes
•    Tape Visits
•    Ask Open-ended Questions
•    Question Procedures, Tests, Consultations and Medications
•   Take the Time You Need
•  Second Opinions
•  Specialists
•  At Least Remember This
•  Checklist:  Visit Strategies
•  Checklist:  Outline for Information Giving
•  Checklist:  Medications

 Checklist:  Procedures, Tests and Consultations

•  Get Recommendations
•  Items to Consider
•   Qualities and Attitudes
•  Rating Providers
•  Dangerous Provider Warning Signs
•  Checklist: What to Look for in Health Care Providers
•   Qualifications
•   Physical Access
•   Communication Access
•   Financial Access
•   Qualities and Attitudes
 

•  Before You Go
•   Know what to expect
•   Plan for your specific needs
•   Establish a personal support system
•   Choosing a hospital
•   Private room
•   Consent forms
•   Bank your blood
•   Prepare for discharge
•   What to take with you
•  During Your Stay
•   Know who is in charge
•   Stay informed
•   Medications
•   Surprise treatments
•   Patient advocate departments
•   Length of stay
•   Home instructions
•  Going Home
•   Hospital Bill
•  Checklist: Hospitals: Be Assertive about Your Needs

•  Organizing Information
•   Medications
•   Surgeries
•   Allergies and Sensitivities
•   List of Providers
•   Record of Tests and Shots
•   Changes in Your Personal Baseline
•  Privacy
•  Travel
•  Emergency Health Information

7. GLOSSARY (WORK IN PROGRESS)

8. REFERENCES

9. RECOMMENDED READINGS
 

•  Related resources and publications available from the author

 

• Ask for an appointment when provider is less likely to be rushed.

• Mail, fax or e-mail, copy of your questions and concerns list to provider before visit or give a copy to receptionist when you arrive.

• Ask, at beginning of visit, how much time provider has allocated for your visit and let provider know that you have questions.

• Create a "questions and concerns list" placing the most important items first.

• Leave space between each question or concern to take notes.

• Be clear about your priorities and what you want to discuss.

• Take a support person.

• Communicate information succinctly.

• When seeing new providers, present current and concise health history which details your condition(s). If possible, mail this information to provider before visit. Don't assume it has been read, ask if they read it.

• If providers don't ask, tell them if there are items about your disability they should know.

• Give providers relevant information about how your disability affects your health care.

• Share useful written information about your disability or condition with provider.

• Take notes and/or tape record the discussion.

• Ask open-ended questions.

• Request providers illustrate explanations by using pictures.

• Take time to think about what you're being told.

• Ask for sources of additional information: books, articles, web sites, videos or support groups.

• At the end of a visit, check your understanding by briefly repeating what you heard the provider say.

• Follow-up by obtaining tests results.

• If applicable consider getting a second opinion.

jik@pacbell.net