When it comes to your health, the last thing you want is to be fobbed off by your medical care provider, who doesn’t understand or want to explore your concerns. A recent survey suggests that as much as 90% of people seeking medical care or advice felt ignored or had their concerns brushed off (source: HealthCentral). Add to this that the Department of Health and Social Care found that 84% of women reported their doctors didn’t listen to them, and it isn’t too hard to see why trust in the medical field isn’t as high as it should be.
These negative experiences can be highly off-putting, making it more critical than ever to have an advocate for your health or to be the best advocate you can be to get the care you need.
Let’s look at how you can be the best health advocate for yourself.
Build Knowledge
You need to know as much as you can about any health challenges you might have and the treatment plans and options available to you. Knowledge is power when it comes to listening to your body and understanding changes in your health and circumstances. Try to avoid relying on Dr. Goggle and use trusted and peer-backed sites for information to avoid misinformation or getting the wrong details, which can set you back. Aim for scholarly or medical sites that publish factual information.
You also need to educate yourself on your current health insurance, know what is covered, what copays you have, limits for claims, etc., so you can work with your healthcare providers to get the right treatment that will be paid out or present fewer obstacles.
Be Honest
Your treating physicians can’t treat you correctly if you are not honest with them. Be open about your lifestyle and habits, especially smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as if you take illegal drugs; this will allow them to deliver more specialized care and offer up care plans or diagnoses that might be missed if you are not honest with them.
Offer up as much relevant information as you can, including things like your working schedule, if applicable, any supplements you take, exercise programs you undertake, and any personal habits you need to be aware of so they can offer you the best care.
Ask The Questions
Ask as many questions as you need to understand what is going on, and don’t be afraid to write things down. If you want to record or film the conversation, you need explicit permission from your healthcare provider, but taking notes is something you can do if you feel you need to.
Some good tips are to ask about the benefits and side effects of any new medication, the pros and cons of specific treatments compared to others, whether they are necessary, or if any alternatives are available. Repeat things back as you are told so you know you fully understand, and the doctor knows you understand, especially if you are uncertain or this is new information for you.
Research Providers
Being proactive and finding the best providers in your insurance network or local area for any health concerns you might have is vital. This proactive approach empowers you to get the care you need. Whether you are looking for a physical therapist to help you recover from an illness, injury, or surgery, or you need the best Vascular Surgeons to treat heart disease or heart conditions, knowing who is the best and being proactive in finding the right care team for your health is key.
Do Your Part
Part of advocating for yourself is being an integral part of your medical team. This post already covered the knowledge aspect, but doing your part means keeping meticulous records of your care and treatments and sharing all the information with your care team when you go to appointments or have treatment. This gives your care team all the information required to deliver you the best care at that point.
You can prepare questions ahead of time, take the medication with you, and write down any concerns regarding sticking to treatment plans or remembering to take medications; you can track symptoms and provide up-to-date details on your health insurance so you understand what is required of you at your appointments and what size bill you can expect to receive if any.
When advocating for your health, it’s important to remember to empower yourself with everything you need to speak up and make your voice heard. This doesn’t mean shouting the loudest; it means being as informed as possible and being a valuable member of your care team.
