Navigating Your Healthcare Journey - March 2023

Taking Charge of Your Health

▪ Make Sure You Have a PCP: It’s important to have a PCP. You need someone who knows you well, can see the big picture and put the puzzle pieces together, help coordinate your care, and keep you on track when it comes to preventive care. It’s optimal to have trust and a collaborative relationship in which you feel comfortable asking questions and sharing your fears, concerns, and a complete picture of your symptoms.

▪ Women Need a PCP and a GYN: Unless your PCP is trained and offers GYN services like a pelvic exam, Pap smear, and HPV testing, e.g., family practitioner, women need both on a PCP and a GYN on their team. A GYN is a specialist and does not provide a full array of PCP services.

▪ Don’t Get Caught in a Bind: There wereclinicianshortages(primary care,specialtycare,MD/DO,NP/PA) evenbeforethepandemic.The situationisevenworsenow,withno quicksolutioninsight.Itisunlikelya clinicianwillacceptyouasanew patientifyoufindyourselfwithan acuteevent.Therefore,it’simportant toestablisharelationshipbeforeyou findyourselfinabindwithno/few optionsexceptthosewhicharelikely tobemoreexpensiveandlessthan optimalforaddressingyourneeds.

Taking Charge of Your Health

Some Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Below are a few questions that might come in handy depending on your concern or clinical condition:

1. What would you recommend for your family or close friends if they were in my situation?

2. Are there any clinical trials available? (You’ll need to check about coverage of cost.)

3. Is it OK for me to have contrast dye (e.g., for a CT scan)? What do I need to do to reduce any potential negative impact on my kidneys? Do I need to be premedicated to avoid an allergic reaction? Do I need non-iodinated contrast?

4. Is this prescription for a medication to which I will need to adjust (potential side effects tend to go away within a few days)?

5. After discharge from a hospital stay:

- Do I need to be on the same medications I was taking prior to admission and at the same dosage and frequency?

6. What are ALL my options?

7. What if I don’t move forward with the surgery, procedure, medication, etc.?

8. Does the medication/treatment work well regardless of my sex or race?

9. Do my symptoms sound like they could be:

- menopause?

- long COVID?

- an autoimmune condition?

Taking Charge of Your Health

▪ Be Prepared to Coordinate Your Care:

Although you may not expect it, be prepared to help coordinate your care, especially if you:

1. have a complicated medical situation

2. have multiple providers involved in your care

3. have providers in different health systems

4. have providers who use different EMRs

5. have providers who use different types of patient portals

6. are/have been hospitalized

The healthcare system is complex and often fragmented. You may be the person who tells each provider about the others, to let your PCP know you were in the hospital or the ER, that your medication regimen has been changed, etc. Therefore, it is important to take notes or have a family member or friend help you keep track.

This newsletter does NOT constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor legal or other professional services. Always seek medical care from your healthcare professional. It is offered with a goal of providing accurate information. However, ensuring all information is entirely accurate and up-to-date at all times is not possible. Therefore, the author accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, misstatements, inconsistencies, or omissions and specifically disclaims any liability, loss, or risk, personal, professional or otherwise, which may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and/or application of any of the contents of this newsletter.