Health literacy: how to be a model patient
Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) will soon be a reality throughout the United States. You will not then need hard copies of your medical records, but until we reach this stage all over the world, you should have an updated and comprehensive medical file and carry it whenever you travel abroad. Few things can be as confusing for a doctor than a patient with partial or no record of past medical diagnosis and treatment.
Open enrollment is an important time of year. You should consider your present medical condition and also consult with your doctor about future possibilities against which you should guard. Pre Diabetes is a common example. You should opt for a policy with sound benefits for diabetes management if you have a family history of the disease and show a pre-disposition yourself. Consider if you plan to have a child in the year ahead, because it will affect your future benefits. Ask at least one registered and authorized Insurance Agent for information on all the products on offer. Choose your health insurance policy with discretion and forward vision.
Doctors are busy people and you as a patient are likely to be under a degree of stress. It can be distressing for all parties if you fail to focus your mind on the most important questions about your health, when you are with the doctor. Do not leave the Clinic without being clear about what you need to do to safeguard your health. Neither should you barge in to the doctor's room and disturb other consultations. Note down your complaint and your questions. Study the prescription with care and take time to understand it fully.
Surveys show that large numbers of people self-medicate and buy non-prescription medicine. Alternate medicine grows in popularity all the time. Neither forget nor avoid telling your doctor about any medicine that you take without prescription. It could interfere with the line of treatment and do you harm. Do not go by tall claims by unprofessional people. Many quick fixes that you see on shelves are found later to have deleterious effects. Natural products can have untold effect as they have rarely been studied in full.
Surgery and other invasive procedures will always entail a degree of risk. This is also true of some diagnostic tests such as dye injection to study blood flow. Listen carefully when the risks are explained without hitting the panic button! Do not allow yourself to be rushed unless there is an emergency. Know and use your right to a second opinion when relevant.
Your prescription is for single use by you alone. You cannot use it later on your own, nor administer it on a member of your family, especially in the cases of children and expecting mothers. The dose, timing, frequency and duration all matter and most drugs will have side-effects and possible adverse reactions. They should be used with precautions and all combinations with other medicine should be under your doctor's exclusive control.
email drsbanerji@gmail.com with any specific queries that you may have. You can also use the public space on this site.
Open enrollment is an important time of year. You should consider your present medical condition and also consult with your doctor about future possibilities against which you should guard. Pre Diabetes is a common example. You should opt for a policy with sound benefits for diabetes management if you have a family history of the disease and show a pre-disposition yourself. Consider if you plan to have a child in the year ahead, because it will affect your future benefits. Ask at least one registered and authorized Insurance Agent for information on all the products on offer. Choose your health insurance policy with discretion and forward vision.
Doctors are busy people and you as a patient are likely to be under a degree of stress. It can be distressing for all parties if you fail to focus your mind on the most important questions about your health, when you are with the doctor. Do not leave the Clinic without being clear about what you need to do to safeguard your health. Neither should you barge in to the doctor's room and disturb other consultations. Note down your complaint and your questions. Study the prescription with care and take time to understand it fully.
Surveys show that large numbers of people self-medicate and buy non-prescription medicine. Alternate medicine grows in popularity all the time. Neither forget nor avoid telling your doctor about any medicine that you take without prescription. It could interfere with the line of treatment and do you harm. Do not go by tall claims by unprofessional people. Many quick fixes that you see on shelves are found later to have deleterious effects. Natural products can have untold effect as they have rarely been studied in full.
Surgery and other invasive procedures will always entail a degree of risk. This is also true of some diagnostic tests such as dye injection to study blood flow. Listen carefully when the risks are explained without hitting the panic button! Do not allow yourself to be rushed unless there is an emergency. Know and use your right to a second opinion when relevant.
Your prescription is for single use by you alone. You cannot use it later on your own, nor administer it on a member of your family, especially in the cases of children and expecting mothers. The dose, timing, frequency and duration all matter and most drugs will have side-effects and possible adverse reactions. They should be used with precautions and all combinations with other medicine should be under your doctor's exclusive control.
email drsbanerji@gmail.com with any specific queries that you may have. You can also use the public space on this site.
posted by Dr. S. Banerji | 10:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home