In 2022, Here’s How Experts Say You Should Approach Your Healthcare Visits

As Americans pay more for health care each year and expect more for their money, experts advise consumers to carefully review their health care costs and study their health insurance policies. .. They also encourage people to be actively involved in any health care encounter.

Here’s how patient advocates and professionals can suggest getting the most out of your health care in 2022.

1. Schedule wisely

Strategically schedule and secure time slots early in the day, suggests Danielle Ripley-Burgess, Kansas City-based Fight Colorectal Cancer advocate and chief storyteller.

“Usually, for the first, second, or third appointments, the office isn’t too late,” says Ripley-Burgess. “Meetings are efficient and the day isn’t wasted because the clinic is late.”

2. “Preparation, preparation, preparation!”

Experts encourage preparation to get the most out of every visit.

Madeline Shonka, CEO of Wichita, Kansas-based Co-Immunity Foundation, said:

Bringing in data such as when symptoms occurred and what could trigger them, suggests Daivat Dholakia, vice president of Essenvia, a software company in the medical device industry.

“If you’re in a situation where your doctor is dismissing your concerns, the easiest solution is to create a symptom journal,” says Dholakia. “This is especially useful for chronic or difficult-to-diagnose symptoms.”

Dr. Monty Ghosh, a Canadian physician and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Alberta, suggests taking the preparation one step further. It’s not just about bringing a list of concerns. Give priority to them.

“Patients often have a huge list of problems they have, and while these problems are important, they often bother clinicians and move away from the major problems at hand,” Ghosh said. I am saying.

If you run out of time to address the complete list of concerns, notify your healthcare provider and schedule a follow-up visit.

Similar guidance applies to telemedicine, according to Dr. Rajinder Chahal, a California-based endocrine metabolite and co-founder of WhiteCoatRemote.com, a recruitment bulletin board for telemedicine workers.

Chahal says telemedicine appointments should be treated like direct visits, and health information and dosing lists should be kept nearby during the visit. Sign on early from a quiet, private location with a stable internet connection.

3. Dig deeper

“The best way to defend yourself and your loved ones is to ask questions,” said Kansas City-based nurse and case manager Janet Gould. “Be prepared to ask the” reason “behind the recommendation to dig a little deeper. It may help you to better understand the plan. “

Pharmacy doctor Felicia Pryor also suggests going beyond surface-level information.

“If the lab looks” normal “, the vitals look” normal “, the weight looks” normal “, or the pill feels” normal “, if it doesn’t feel” normal “, continue digging. .. “Pryer said.

According to her, the goal is to find the root cause and make her feel better than usual.

Author and patient advocate Mary Chaumont requests a complete copy of the lab report and suggests that you carefully review it yourself to find any anomalies. In as many as 26% of cases, patients are unaware of the abnormal consequences.

“Not only do you have the right to lab reports, but as an authorized patient, you need to carefully review for errors,” says Shomon. “It may save your life!”

4. Two pairs of ears are better than one pair

Experts recommend booking someone with you.

“Often it’s hard to remember everything discussed, especially if it’s a serious medical problem,” Gauche said. “Having a second ear helps us remember the important things we talked about.”

Karen Curtis, a board-certified patient advocate and founder of the Care Partner Project, remembers what you want to do when you feel sick or anxious, and schedules and picks up tests. Prescriptions that say you can help with follow-up tasks such as.

“Your” someone “doesn’t have to be a professional advocate, but rather a friend or family member who is willing to take notes for you,” Curtis said. “Partners can help track down details that can make a big difference between care and peace of mind.”

5. Healthy skepticism can be healthy

A second opinion may feel like guessing your doctor second, but Chelsea Gomez says you shouldn’t worry about it. A Florida-based cancer survivor and founder of the online cancer community encourages people to seek a second opinion if something doesn’t sound right.

“It’s okay to ask for a second opinion. You shouldn’t feel bad about doing that,” Gomez said. “Your doctor should feel comfortable with it, and if they don’t … I think it’s really good you did!”

Even before getting a second opinion, Los Angeles-based certified patient advocate Ron Sinkman says he needs to think critically about the information he gets from his provider.

“For decades, the relationship between the donor and the patient was largely paternal,” he said. “The doctor makes a recommendation, and the patient is supposed to follow the letter.”

But as healthcare groups and hospitals become more commercialized, patients also need to refocus themselves on more business-like relationships with healthcare providers, Sinkman said.

“A reasonably skeptical question is better suited for this relationship. Providers are regularly reminded that cost is a patient factor,” Sinkman said.

Barbara Lewis also believes that patients should play a more active role in their care. Lewis established the Bill of Rights for Joan’s Family to help people protect themselves from diagnostic errors after his sister Joan died in the intensive care unit in 2012.

“The days when clinicians talk and patients just listen are over,” Lewis said. “Now patients need to study and educate themselves, prepare and speak questions, and ask clinicians to work with them in their care.”

According to Lewis, healthcare is a team sport. You must be the core player of the team.

6. Relationship is important

According to experts, healthy skepticism should not prevent you from building a genuine relationship with your healthcare provider.

“Build a really friendly relationship with your caregiver,” said Ashley Johnson, founder of Loyal Hands, a group of death doulas that help end-of-life people. “The more the caregiver realizes that you are a person, not another patient, the more kind the care team will be.”

Dr. Ben Aiken, Direct Primary Care Provider in Asheville, NC and Vice President of Health Care at Decent, encourages people to establish strong relationships with primary care providers. These relationships serve as the basis for maintaining good health and navigating the healthcare system in the event of illness, says Aiken.

7. Become your own project manager

“You are the project manager for your own health journey. Doctors and healthcare providers are there as resources, but in today’s medical world, it’s your job to manage your team.”

Shomon suggests finding the right project team members, making sure they communicate and follow you and each other, and continue to inform them.

“Your clinician can’t read your mind,” said Michigan-based nurse and director of the National Headache Foundation, Jill Delin. “If you have a delicate question, ask. Believe me, they are listening to personal questions of all kinds and can probably help you or introduce you to someone who can. increase.”

Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate Marianne Salsic is confident in what you know about you, so that it helps you raise your voice for yourself unwaveringly. Say it’s important to do.

“Your voice is one of your most powerful tools when it comes to your health care,” Sarcich said. “Your role in the medical team is important. Keep this in mind: the doctor is a medical expert, but you are your expert.”