This is wonderful, and hopefully a topic that will receive more attention as a necessary part of the health care system.
The terms "patient empowerment" and "self-advocating" can sound daunting, especially to anyone who is shy-by-nature, or even those who are more outgoing but sitting in a cloth robe that barely covers you can turn anyone "shy"!
To me, being an advocate and being empowered as a patient means that I will do the following:
1. Know my medical/family health history
2. Provide my health care providers with as much information as I can; be truthful
3. Seek appropriate care when needed, including preventative care
4. Make my appointments on time!
5. Conduct research before my appointment with credible sources if I have any bothersome or questionable symptoms
6. Write my questions down, and bring to the appointment. Let the health care provider know beforehand if I have more than 5-10 minutes' worth of questions, so the appointment can be scheduled appropriately
7. Write down all of the answers as my doctor provides them
8. Ask how I can follow-up with him/her or the nurse if I have further questions
9. Generally be kind to my health care provider, and get to know the "other" people in the office: receptionists, nurses, NPs, lab techs, and get to know one thing about them (within reason) that you can inquire about (new house, new grandbaby, favorite vacation spot, TV show...that sort of thing)
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This is wonderful, and hopefully a topic that will receive more attention as a necessary part of the health care system.
The terms "patient empowerment" and "self-advocating" can sound daunting, especially to anyone who is shy-by-nature, or even those who are more outgoing but sitting in a cloth robe that barely covers you can turn anyone "shy"!
To me, being an advocate and being empowered as a patient means that I will do the following:
December 13, 2009 - 3:56pm1. Know my medical/family health history
2. Provide my health care providers with as much information as I can; be truthful
3. Seek appropriate care when needed, including preventative care
4. Make my appointments on time!
5. Conduct research before my appointment with credible sources if I have any bothersome or questionable symptoms
6. Write my questions down, and bring to the appointment. Let the health care provider know beforehand if I have more than 5-10 minutes' worth of questions, so the appointment can be scheduled appropriately
7. Write down all of the answers as my doctor provides them
8. Ask how I can follow-up with him/her or the nurse if I have further questions
9. Generally be kind to my health care provider, and get to know the "other" people in the office: receptionists, nurses, NPs, lab techs, and get to know one thing about them (within reason) that you can inquire about (new house, new grandbaby, favorite vacation spot, TV show...that sort of thing)
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