It has become increasingly important for you to be an informed patient and to be involved in the treatment and care of any illness or injury that you acquire.  Additionally it is important to be involved in the treatment and care of any illness of loved ones, who are unable to care for themselves.  Never totally relinquish your care or someone else's care to the doctor, therapist, or any other healthcare provider - this could mean life or death or more damage to your body than necessary. There are pertinent questions that you will want to have answered by the practitioner or by doing your own research.

 

It has never been more important to be informed and knowledgeable about your medical care. Forty years ago, many people stayed with the same doctor for generations, often passing devotion for a certain doctor down to their children. That is not the case anymore.  With changing health plans and switching doctors the way that we do these days, you may be the only constant factor in your medical care. Besides, no one knows your body the way that you do. Additionally, no one knows your past medical treatment, care and diagnosis better than you.

It is normal and expected to question your doctor and get second opinions on medical treatments and diagnoses in the United States. Many patients in other countries still rely and relinquish all medical decisions to their doctor. The American College of Physicians has stated that all patients have the right to be informed and knowledgeable about their medical conditions, prognosis and various alternative treatments. This is a big change from the 1960's when most doctors did not even tell patients they had cancer. Unfortunately, keeping patients ignorant is still quite common in many countries.

According to the Joint Commission on Health Care, people who are in tune and educated about their disease or condition have shorter hospital stays, less complications, less stress related to the treatment, and they feel more satisfied about their care.  You can feel confident that you are not allowing a practitioner to do something to you that can result in something you are not prepared to deal with. You can also be sure that you are not getting pushed aside and ignored if you demand to be educated about your health condition. You will also feel that you have explored every avenue of treatment possible for yourself.

To be a better informed patient you must use communication as a tool. It is most important that you ask questions of your doctor questions and as many health care providers that you can. Getting accurate answers that you can understand is very critical. You might feel uncomfortable asking questions because you think your doctor does not have time to answer them. However, you have the right to ask the questions and get them answered. It is a good idea to take notes or have someone with you while asking questions so that you do not forget what the doctor said, or get confused once you are home thinking about his or her answers. With the Internet accessible to pretty much everyone now, there is a plethora of information available for patients on health sites like WebMD, and many others.  Be sure you are using a site that is trustworthy and that is written and/or edited by doctors and healthcare practitioners.  You can also find e-groups, bulletin boards and mailing lists that exchange information on just about any health problem.  You can exchange information with other people who have the same health problem that you do and you can learn about the treatment options they may have tried. Just remember, you can't believe everything you read, and someone else's case, although seemingly similar, may be worlds different when you consider factors such as age, exact condition, concurrent disease states or illnesses, medications, overall health, etc. However, the Internet can be a useful tool to gain a better understanding about your condition, and it may help you form better questions for your doctor or health care practitioner.

 

In asking questions you might find out that your doctor or health care provider does not know all the answers. It is impossible for every doctor to know every new development in all the diseases and conditions that occur in this world. This is especially true in these times with new medical technology and advancements in medicine being so rapid. Your doctor may have to research to find out the answers to your questions, and that is a good thing!

 

                             

 

Some of the questions you should ask are:

-What caused my health problem?
-How can it be treated?
-Is there more than one way of treating it?
-How long will I have this?
-Will I need medication?
-Will the problem reoccur?
-What lasting problems, if any, will I have?
-What kinds of tests will I have?
-What are the tests for? What do the results mean?
-How long will it take for me to recover?
-Are there any lifestyles changes I can do to stay healthier?

Remember, medicine and healthcare is not always an exact science.  There is often room for variations in the answers that you may receive from your provider, or even in the treatment plan that is prescribed for your condition.  Your job as a patient, or patient advocate, is to be informed, ask educated questions, and choose the practitioner and/or treatment plan that you are the most comfortable.  At Chesapeake Physical and Aquatic therapy, we pride ourselves on being good listeners and good communicators.  Our goal is to not only get you better, but educate you about your condition so that you can help yourself during the recovery process, and possibly prevent reoccurrence of your condition.  Our website can be a helpful tool to help educate you about common physical therapy related problems, so be sure to check us out at www.chesapeakept.com, and visit our injury guide page or newsletter archive for lots of helpful information!