You & Your Health Care Team

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Participate Actively in Your Own Health Care

aWithout your participation, your Health Care Professional’s efforts may not give you the desired results. Often it takes more than medication or surgery to manage a health problem.

Patient responsibility is about awareness, empowerment & engaging actively towards healing or managing and is an essential part of complete therapy, especially and more than ever in cases of NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases).

Your health care professional is not a magician and cannot help you, if you do not take the necessary steps towards helping yourself.

  • Be truthful and honest, especially with yourself. Don’t be in denial or make excuses, but try to face the reality
  • If possible, organize health care bookings in advance. Be punctual for your appointment. You may not only inconvenience your health care specialist, but also fellow patients by being late
  • Bring along previous notes and  all diagnostic test results, current as well as previous, unless files are maintained for all patients
  • File diagnostic tests and notes in chronological order (avoid heaps of loose pieces of paper, as well as countless envelopes containing reports, letters, various bills, payments)
  • Inform your doctor of your past medical and surgical history which may be of importance, including weight loss
  • Mention any medicines you are taking, including herbal, ayurvedic, all types of supplements, as well as over the counter drugs, existing drug allergies
  • It is best to prepare a list of all you need to, want to talk about, the questions you wish to ask, the concerns you have
  • Pay attention and listen carefully to all that is said. Try not to adopt the selective hearing mode. If necessary, take notes or ask a relative or friend to accompany you to prevent you from forgetting things important to remember
  • If you do not understand something, do ask. Don’t leave the consultation room with doubts. Feel free to discuss options and future management, what, if and when
  • Get professional, specialized assistance, if necessary. Notify your doctor if you have added health care professionals to your treatment
  • If you need specific advice on your diet, how to reduce weight, lifestyle modification, suitable exercise, stress management, it is best to consult a suitably qualified health care professional
  • Do adhere to the prescribed treatment. Undergo relevant diagnostic tests ordered by your health care professional
  • Do not trouble your health care specialist at weddings, parties, other off-duty social functions. After all: your doctor deserves time off too!
  • Do not ask ‘Dr. Neighbour”, ‘Dr. Friend’, ‘Dr. Relative’, ‘Dr. Colleague’ for health care advice. You may end up misinformed, and/or confused
  • Switch off /’silence’ your mobile phone/smart device prior to entering the consultation room. Calls, SMS, reminders received, constant ringing tones, tunes and bleeps are interruptions which interfere negatively during a consultation, you (and your health care specialist) may get distracted and lose concentration on what can be very important for you and your future health
  • Audio recording your consultation in a digital manner [i.e. by mobile/smart phone, voice recorder: It is necessary to declare your wish to do so and to get the consent of your health care professional. Buying consultation time does not automatically entitle you to record the session. Please read more: http://sigrid-desilva.com/health-care-smart-phones/
  • For optimal health management, adhere to follow-up/review appointments
  • If you feel you can reduce medications due to lifestyle and dietary improvements, discuss this with your health care professional, primary physician
  • And last, but most importantly: choose the right specialist for YOU.
    You need to experience empathy and care, be given sufficient time, feel well guided, get satisfactory replies to your questions and queries, be able to communicate, have a positive approach, feel confident and secure, be able to trust

Above is an excerpt from my publication EAT. DRINK. LIVE! Be Healthy – Stay Fit – Feel Great
© Copyright Sigrid de Silva. All Rights Reserved.

Read more: http://sigrid-desilva.com/eat-drink-live/

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