Tips
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Participate in your own care
I have a tendency to imagine the doctors and health care professionals are paying attention and working on my behalf. That would be nice and I'm sure they are to a certain degree, but you need to participate in coordinating your own care.
Get your doctors talking to each other. Make sure everyone knows what medications you're taking. Share the results of your tests with everyone involved. Ask questions and take notes.
Shared by wishuponastar on 4/19/08
You are absolutely right!
Do not be intimdated by a doctor. I work in the field and believe me I recently found myself in the emergency room where the physician was none to happy to take care of me due to my advocacy for my health care. If you do not feel that you can advocate for yourself effectlively (due to your illness), make sure you bring someone you trust with you. If you are uncomfortable with the doctor you DO NOT need to continue your care with that physician, you have the right to go to another. I, who works in the field and respects my primary care physician, had to reject the specialist he sent me to because the specialist did not want to answer my questions to my satisfaction nor did his staff treat me with any type of respect. I can only stress is that you are the customer if you went to Wal-Mart and got bad service you would complain, right. Physicians and thier staff work for you, you bring in the money to run thier office, you are thier customer if they want you back then they better treat you well or you take your buisness elswhere.
Also, try to get all your prescription medication at the same pharmacy, this will help prevent any type of drup interaction should you forget a drug you are taking. The Pharmacist should be able to pick up on it quickly and notify the physcian and prevent a serious problem.