Going to the doctor isn’t as simple as it used to be. There are so many things going on when you get to the doctor’s office, it’s easy to forget why you are there! FirstLight Home Care of Chardon has some great tips for you on how to be prepared for visits to the doctor, hospital, therapist, etc. where you will be dealing with your healthcare. By implementing these six tips, you will place yourself in the driver’s seat and be clear about why you are going and what you want to know before you see the doctor.
How To Be Your Own Best “Healthcare Advocate”
The doctor-patient relationship is like a business meeting with two experts; the doctor who has the medical expertise, and the patient who brings the situation – telling the story and filling in the details. Since you are the patient, you need to be fully prepared to bring your story for that business meeting before you get to the doctor’s office. Taking a family member or caregiver along with you during these visits will provide emotional support and help you to accomplish your objectives.
1. Prepare Your Agenda
Write up a list of all the things you want to discuss when you are with the doctor. Be honest. Share everything that needs to be addressed, even if it is uncomfortable. He cannot help you if you do not give him all the necessary information! Are you:
- overweight?
- not exercising enough?
- a smoker?
- have problems sleeping?
- a heavy drinker?
- living alone, lonely, depressed, feeling isolated, anxious…?
If you want to feel good, you have to look at what you can do to be part of making that happen by addressing these things head on. These are key things that will have bad effects on your health in the long run. So if you struggle with any of these issues, tell your doctor. Doctors hear about people’s personal issues all day long, so you don’t need to feel uncomfortable.
Talk about them and develop a plan to address them with your doctor – even if you are the one to bring it up! Some doctors don’t want to press their patients about these things, so you must be the one to bring them up! You will be glad you did in the long run.
Always bring a list of your current medicines with you. You can either write them down, ask the pharmacist to print one for you, or bring all the bottles of medicine with you, and the staff will give the information to your doctor.
2. As The Patient, You Have The Power!
As the patient, it is YOU who decides:
- what to share
- how to share it
- what to ask
The responsibility to understand what is being said is on YOU! And you get to make the final decision about what will be done with YOUR body.
Remember: doctors are not mind readers. You must be clear as to why you are there. Don’t let fear or embarrassment prevent you from sharing pertinent information. If you don’t talk about it, they won’t know about it.
3. Layman’s Lingo, Please!
Sometimes physicians and other healthcare professionals are so used to talking in their medical “lingo,” they forget that the patient might not speak that same language. The key here is that if you don’t understand, you are the one in the driver’s seat and need to say, “Stop! Please explain this to me again in words that I can understand.”
If your doctor is in a rush, he may initially be put off by that. They may even ask you to schedule another appointment if they feel they can’t give you the time right then. If that is the case, you have the right to ask not to be charged for the follow-up visit if they insist that you reschedule.
But this is key: if you don’t understand, don’t leave the doctor’s office until you do understand.
4. What If You Don’t Agree With What Your Doctor Is Recommending?
You have the right to disagree, negotiate if possible, and most important, get a second opinion.
Most people get a second opinion on the cost of critical care repairs, but when it comes to what they will do with their body, they don’t even think about it!
Get a second opinion anytime you feel you don’t agree with your medical care plan.
5. Insurance And Money
Most doctors leave the money part of their practice to their office manager, receptionist, and biller. They don’t always know how much each visit costs, what your insurance deductibles are, what facility is “in-network,” and how much any prescription drug costs. The reason for this is because these all vary so much – patient by patient, insurance company by insurance company, pharmacy by pharmacy.
Do your homework before you schedule appointments! Know your deductibles, your “in-network” hospitals, labs and radiologist, and your “in-network” pharmacies.
Prescriptions
Though you may not have any control on what your medical insurance will pay a hospital, doctor, lab, etc., you DO have control of how much you pay for your prescriptions. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call a few to find out how much your prescriptions will cost. There are HUGE differences from pharmacy to pharmacy, so taking the time to make those phone calls is important if you want to make sure you are not overpaying for your prescriptions.
Financial Assistance
In the state of Ohio, Medicaid (assistance for individuals with low income) has expanded, and now more people than ever can get their medical insurance through Medicaid. If you are wondering if you qualify, call the Jobs and Family Services Office nearest you or your local Senior Center. They will assist you with everything you need to know about how to qualify.
6. If You Must Be Admitted To A Hospital…
Never go to the hospital alone! Make sure that you find as many family members, friends, church members, and home healthcare aids that you can to take shifts and to make sure you spend very little time alone.
When you are in the hospital, you are in your most vulnerable state. You aren’t thinking as clearly as you normally would for a number of different reasons: pain, disorientation, fear, confusion, illness, etc. You need to make sure you have people surrounding you who have your best interests in mind at all times. Let them be your advocate and interpreter. They can help the caregivers better understand what is going on with you because they know you best and you can talk to them much easier than you can to someone on the medical staff.
Have someone with you at all times, even if it is a home healthcare aid from FirstLight Home Care. They can be your best helpers because they are on your side and don’t have any hidden agendas. FirstLight Home Care offers complete companion and personal care services for seniors, new mothers, those recovering from surgery, or anyone who just needs a little assistance.
Don’t hesitate to call! This is about your health and your quality of life!
440-286-1342
*Watch for Part II: 10 Things You Should Bring to Every Doctor’s Appointment
