Problems - Chapter 11

The Secret of Great Health Care

Your Subtitle text

Despite its many problems, many experts would argue that the United States has the best health care system in the world. Many foreign diplomats come to the United States to receive health care and top-notch treatment. If you know how to take advantage of it, America has the best health care in the world. To get great health care you need to be educated, organized and able to communicate.

Being educated does not mean that you need to have a medical degree or even a high school diploma; it means that you know how to get and transmit critical information.

Having a system to organize and communicate your health information will significantly improve health care. Having this information improves the relationship with your doctor and having a good relationship with the physician who serves as your primary care provider is an essential step to getting optimal health care.

Doctors do not have all of the answers; they require the help of each of their patients to manage health and disease. The information that you provide your doctor assures great health care.

Health care responsibility is a process that starts with understanding your medical history and ends with receiving great health care. This process involves organizing your past medical history and understanding your future health care needs. It is an ongoing process requiring an initial investment of time and energy to complete the personal health record and gain an understanding of the health care system and common health care problems.

The doctor visit is a business transaction. Use this very valuable time wisely and transmit essential information. This does not mean that you should be unfriendly, but use the time wisely. Take an active role in your health care. Maintaining a personal health care record provides a sense of power and assures you are getting appropriate care. Your Health is Your Responsibility

Doctors are not solely responsible for making the final health care decisions, it is a team effort. You need to depend on your doctor’s expertise, listen to recommendations but do not let the doctor dictate the care. The medical system is a complex, fragmented system. It falls upon the shoulder of each individual to take responsibility to assure proper health care, which can result in more effective care. The payoffs of being an active member of your health care will be immense.

What you need to do:

Maintain a personal health record. This will help you communicate with the fragmented health care system. Maintaining your health record allows you stay organized and transmit accurate information to your health care providers. It will help you understand your medical care and make you a partner in your medical care. Complete the personal health record as outlined in the book, Improve Your Communication: How Talking Can Improve Health Care.
Know how to communicate under a variety of health care settings. Physicians do not spend long periods of time with each patient. The average health care appointment is about 10-15 minutes. It important that you maximize the time with your health care provider. Come into your appointment organized: have a written copy of your medical history, describe your problem before you get there and have questions for the doctor prepared. Learn how to communicate with your doctor in the book, Improve Your Communication: How Talking Can Improve Health Care.
Track your preventative health care. Prevention is a critical aspect in staying healthy. It is much easier to prevent a disease than it is to cure it. Preventative health care is vastly under utilized. Take control of your preventative health care as outlined in the book, Don’t Get Sick: Seven Steps to Optimal Preventative Health Care.
Understand common illnesses. If you understand common illness you will significantly reduce your number of doctor visits. Running to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle, sneeze or cough is not the best strategy. Many times it will be a waste of time for both you and your doctor. On the other hand, there are times that the doctor should be consulted. Learn about common health problems in the book, Cough, Sniffle, Sneeze: How to Get Optimal Health Care for Common Health Problems.
Understand over the counter medications and home remedies. Understanding over the counter medications and home remedies will save you time, money and improve your health. Knowing how to use over the counter medications can be accomplished by reading the book, How to Use Over the Counter Products: A Guide to the Drug Store.
Understand antibiotics. Antibiotics are over prescribed and having an intelligent conversation with your doctor about antibiotics will assure that they are used appropriately. Educated consumers will not go into the doctor's office and demand or expect antibiotics. Improve your knowledge of antibiotics by reading the book: Guide to Understanding Antibiotics Prescribed in Your Doctor’s Office.
Understand and manage your chronic diseases. Each chronic disease that afflicts you needs to be organized. You need to understand how the disease affects your body. Learn how to manage your chronic diseases with the book, Chronic Disease Guide: How to Prevent and Treat Common Chronic Diseases.

After reading these seven books you can now partner with your doctor to improve your health care. Take this responsibility seriously – it may save your life. Dedicate yourself to lifelong vigilance on staying up to date on medical advances and your health care.

Now you are on the way to achieving the best health care that the best health care system in the world has to offer. If everyone took Health Care Responsibility this country would be ranked much higher than number 37 in the world.

Free Adult Personal Medical Record

How to Create A Medical Record