Planning your next Doctor's visit:
1. Find a doctor who welcomes your participation. Look for a physician who accepts and welcomes your questions. Good communication is essential for a successful relationship with your physician. Good doctors are good communicators and listeners. If you feel that your doctor does not value your contribution and isn’t really listening to you, walk away.
2. Prepare ahead of time before your medical appointment. List your top three medical concerns and create a list of questions for your doctor. If you are prepared for your office visit, you’ll feel less anxious and more able to ask questions.
3. Create a list of your current medications and their dosages, over-the-counter medications, herbs and supplements, and allergies to medications. Bring it with you to every doctor/medical visit.
4. Become familiar with your illness or condition. If you learn about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and any medications you are taking, you become knowledgeable about what is happening with your body, enabling you to have more effective conversations with your medical providers. Becoming well informed increases your confidence as a patient.
5. Obtain copies of your medical records from your doctor(s) every time you have a medical encounter. This includes test results such as MRIs, CT scans and blood work. Look them over. Place them in a health file. This prevents you from having to lasso information when you may not be able to. It also gives you a sense of control over your medical information.
6. Do a little research. If a medical professional has given you a diagnosis and/or treatment plan, do some research on credible websites such as academic, government or professional medical society/academy. These end in .gov, .edu, and .org. Doing research on your own gets you more informed and in a place to evaluate what is best for you. It empowers and prepares you to ask questions of your doctor.
7. Create a simple health history of major medical events over your lifetime such as births, surgeries, procedures, major tests and current medical diagnoses. This allows a new doctor to see a full picture of what you’ve been through, which medical conditions or diseases you have and which medications/treatments you are currently taking or engaging in. If you lose your job or your doctor stops taking your health insurance, you will have to begin again with a new doctor. This also familiarizes you with what medical interventions you’ve had. How many times have we all forgotten when we had that colonoscopy? Was it three years ago? Four?
8. Remember that the doctor is a human being. Most of us were trained to view physicians as demi-gods. Just because your medical provider has degrees and training that you don’t, it doesn’t mean you should put your needs second to his/her time constraints. Physicians are people just like you and me.
This is your time with the doctor. Remember, this is your office visit and you are paying for it. Many patients are fearful of using up too much of the doctor’s time and then resist asking important questions. This backfires for the patient and the doctor. Be assertive!
Read more at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-slideshows/72-afraid-to-ask-questions-of-your-doctor-9-tips-to-increase-your-self-confidence-as-a-patient#KkckMAdy3KO5OjHy.99
Many thanks for this empowering information. Visiting a Doctor is often scary. You are anxious, overwhelmed in the Doctor's presence, and Males particularly feel the need to appear 'strong' and so do not present what is Actually bothering them. If you are not comfortable with your present Doctor, choose another one. Above all, you 'need' to feel listened to, not rushed through, and confident enough that you will follow their advice.
You can also access the Free Beyond the Basics (English) patient content in UpToDate by simply typing a term or phrase in the search box. Look up your specific question — anything from a symptom you're concerned about to a condition or treatment you've been discussing with your healthcare provider.
Learn more about a medical condition and explore treatment options using UpToDate, the same resource trusted by more than 1.1 million clinicians around the world. After you read the information in UpToDate, you will have the tools and the confidence to ask the right questions and have important conversations with your healthcare provider.
Remember to print the information you find in UpToDate so you can discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Search for your condition http://www.uptodate.com/home/uptodate-subscription-options-patients
Use the Resource Trusted by Clinicians and Healthcare Practitioners Worldwide. UpToDate® is the premier evidence-based clinical decision support resource, trusted worldwide by healthcare practitioners to help them make the right decisions at the point of care. It is proven to change the way clinicians practice medicine, and is the only resource of its kind associated with improved outcomes.
--------------------------------------------
Professor Jennifer Martin from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) (experts in the use and toxicity of medicines) says, "Many of our recommendations today will help patients avoid unnecessary tests and procedures and lead to discussions on reducing waste and overuse of medicines."
"One of our recommendations is to reduce the use of multiple medicines, common in older patients. Hyperpolypharmacy is where people may be on as many as 15 to 20 medicines at a time." Research has confirmed a significant association between polypharmacy and adverse outcomes among older people and an association with decreased physical and social functioning; increased risk of falls, delirium, hospital admissions and death. With an ageing population, use of many medicines at the same time is something we need to be having conversations about to avoid potentially harmful implications."
Older Australians may not be aware that they are on a ‘prescribing cascade’, where they take one medicine and have an adverse reaction, so are put on another medicine. One common example is when a patient is prescribed a nonsteroidal drug for pain, and is then prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce the risk of stomach side effects caused by the first prescribed medicine.
The new recommendations on appropriate use and prescribing of medicine include:
Dr Lynn Weekes, CEO of NPS MedicineWise who facilitate Choosing Wisely Australia says, "We are delighted to launch two more lists of Choosing Wisely Australia recommendations today. Choosing Wisely Australia is all about kick starting conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures, and that more is not always better. The adoption of these recommendations by health professionals will improve care.
"With the focus on medicines and older Australians in these lists, we urge people to consider if they are on the right medicine, or whether they could be taking too many medicines and if you are due for a review. It’s always timely to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any medicines are unnecessary and if they could cause harm if taken together."
http://www.nps.org.au/
it is with grateful thanks that the often escalating number of pills is discussed openly, enabling those who have been worried about their increasing number of medications may just be one too many...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
How things have changed:-
How we got from 18th-century tinctures to the opioid crisis
MIKE MAGEE, MD | MEDS | OCTOBER 2, 2019
Americans have always loved their medicines and sought them out actively to cure whatever ailed them. Their interest ranged all the way from “staying well” to “feeling better.” Productivity in this hard-charging, pull yourself up by the bootstraps society required activity, and it’s hard to be active when you’re sick.
In the 18th-century in Germany, England, France, and Switzerland, men practicing pharmacy saw their retail operations as the cornerstone of a potential wholesale gold mine. Handmade pills and boluses, macerated and percolated tinctures, infusions and ointments delivered by mortars and pestles were everyday fare. Few chemists and druggists were content with just dispensing. They wanted their “own lines” — “a soothing cough mixture, a worm eradicator, an ointment for scabies, but not too griping purge” might turn a fortune. And America was a rapidly expanding market.
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/10/how-we-got-from-18th-century-tinctures-to-the-opioid-crisis.html
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Your My Health Record is an online summary of your health information, such as your medicines, any allergies you may have, and your medical history.
Once your My Health Record is created your doctor, hospitals and other healthcare providers involved in your care can automatically access your health information, unless you set up your privacy controls.
Using these privacy controls lets you decide which healthcare providers can access your My Health Record and what they can view. You can also ask a provider not to upload certain information. If you decide you don’t want a My Health Record you can cancel it at any time.
Click on Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.oaic.gov.au/myhealthrecord/privacy/
1. Find a doctor who welcomes your participation. Look for a physician who accepts and welcomes your questions. Good communication is essential for a successful relationship with your physician. Good doctors are good communicators and listeners. If you feel that your doctor does not value your contribution and isn’t really listening to you, walk away.
2. Prepare ahead of time before your medical appointment. List your top three medical concerns and create a list of questions for your doctor. If you are prepared for your office visit, you’ll feel less anxious and more able to ask questions.
3. Create a list of your current medications and their dosages, over-the-counter medications, herbs and supplements, and allergies to medications. Bring it with you to every doctor/medical visit.
4. Become familiar with your illness or condition. If you learn about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and any medications you are taking, you become knowledgeable about what is happening with your body, enabling you to have more effective conversations with your medical providers. Becoming well informed increases your confidence as a patient.
5. Obtain copies of your medical records from your doctor(s) every time you have a medical encounter. This includes test results such as MRIs, CT scans and blood work. Look them over. Place them in a health file. This prevents you from having to lasso information when you may not be able to. It also gives you a sense of control over your medical information.
6. Do a little research. If a medical professional has given you a diagnosis and/or treatment plan, do some research on credible websites such as academic, government or professional medical society/academy. These end in .gov, .edu, and .org. Doing research on your own gets you more informed and in a place to evaluate what is best for you. It empowers and prepares you to ask questions of your doctor.
7. Create a simple health history of major medical events over your lifetime such as births, surgeries, procedures, major tests and current medical diagnoses. This allows a new doctor to see a full picture of what you’ve been through, which medical conditions or diseases you have and which medications/treatments you are currently taking or engaging in. If you lose your job or your doctor stops taking your health insurance, you will have to begin again with a new doctor. This also familiarizes you with what medical interventions you’ve had. How many times have we all forgotten when we had that colonoscopy? Was it three years ago? Four?
8. Remember that the doctor is a human being. Most of us were trained to view physicians as demi-gods. Just because your medical provider has degrees and training that you don’t, it doesn’t mean you should put your needs second to his/her time constraints. Physicians are people just like you and me.
This is your time with the doctor. Remember, this is your office visit and you are paying for it. Many patients are fearful of using up too much of the doctor’s time and then resist asking important questions. This backfires for the patient and the doctor. Be assertive!
Read more at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-slideshows/72-afraid-to-ask-questions-of-your-doctor-9-tips-to-increase-your-self-confidence-as-a-patient#KkckMAdy3KO5OjHy.99
Many thanks for this empowering information. Visiting a Doctor is often scary. You are anxious, overwhelmed in the Doctor's presence, and Males particularly feel the need to appear 'strong' and so do not present what is Actually bothering them. If you are not comfortable with your present Doctor, choose another one. Above all, you 'need' to feel listened to, not rushed through, and confident enough that you will follow their advice.
You can also access the Free Beyond the Basics (English) patient content in UpToDate by simply typing a term or phrase in the search box. Look up your specific question — anything from a symptom you're concerned about to a condition or treatment you've been discussing with your healthcare provider.
Learn more about a medical condition and explore treatment options using UpToDate, the same resource trusted by more than 1.1 million clinicians around the world. After you read the information in UpToDate, you will have the tools and the confidence to ask the right questions and have important conversations with your healthcare provider.
Remember to print the information you find in UpToDate so you can discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Search for your condition http://www.uptodate.com/home/uptodate-subscription-options-patients
Use the Resource Trusted by Clinicians and Healthcare Practitioners Worldwide. UpToDate® is the premier evidence-based clinical decision support resource, trusted worldwide by healthcare practitioners to help them make the right decisions at the point of care. It is proven to change the way clinicians practice medicine, and is the only resource of its kind associated with improved outcomes.
--------------------------------------------
Professor Jennifer Martin from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) (experts in the use and toxicity of medicines) says, "Many of our recommendations today will help patients avoid unnecessary tests and procedures and lead to discussions on reducing waste and overuse of medicines."
"One of our recommendations is to reduce the use of multiple medicines, common in older patients. Hyperpolypharmacy is where people may be on as many as 15 to 20 medicines at a time." Research has confirmed a significant association between polypharmacy and adverse outcomes among older people and an association with decreased physical and social functioning; increased risk of falls, delirium, hospital admissions and death. With an ageing population, use of many medicines at the same time is something we need to be having conversations about to avoid potentially harmful implications."
Older Australians may not be aware that they are on a ‘prescribing cascade’, where they take one medicine and have an adverse reaction, so are put on another medicine. One common example is when a patient is prescribed a nonsteroidal drug for pain, and is then prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce the risk of stomach side effects caused by the first prescribed medicine.
The new recommendations on appropriate use and prescribing of medicine include:
- recognising and stopping the prescribing cascade, to avoid adverse drug reactions in older people
- reducing the use of multiple medicines
- to not prescribe medicines without conducting a drug review, to avoid adverse outcomes for people on 5 to 20 medications, and
- to stop medicines when no further benefit will be achieved, particularly for older patients with a limited life expectancy where the treatments are unlikely to prevent disease.
Dr Lynn Weekes, CEO of NPS MedicineWise who facilitate Choosing Wisely Australia says, "We are delighted to launch two more lists of Choosing Wisely Australia recommendations today. Choosing Wisely Australia is all about kick starting conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures, and that more is not always better. The adoption of these recommendations by health professionals will improve care.
"With the focus on medicines and older Australians in these lists, we urge people to consider if they are on the right medicine, or whether they could be taking too many medicines and if you are due for a review. It’s always timely to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any medicines are unnecessary and if they could cause harm if taken together."
http://www.nps.org.au/
it is with grateful thanks that the often escalating number of pills is discussed openly, enabling those who have been worried about their increasing number of medications may just be one too many...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
How things have changed:-
How we got from 18th-century tinctures to the opioid crisis
MIKE MAGEE, MD | MEDS | OCTOBER 2, 2019
Americans have always loved their medicines and sought them out actively to cure whatever ailed them. Their interest ranged all the way from “staying well” to “feeling better.” Productivity in this hard-charging, pull yourself up by the bootstraps society required activity, and it’s hard to be active when you’re sick.
In the 18th-century in Germany, England, France, and Switzerland, men practicing pharmacy saw their retail operations as the cornerstone of a potential wholesale gold mine. Handmade pills and boluses, macerated and percolated tinctures, infusions and ointments delivered by mortars and pestles were everyday fare. Few chemists and druggists were content with just dispensing. They wanted their “own lines” — “a soothing cough mixture, a worm eradicator, an ointment for scabies, but not too griping purge” might turn a fortune. And America was a rapidly expanding market.
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/10/how-we-got-from-18th-century-tinctures-to-the-opioid-crisis.html
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Your My Health Record is an online summary of your health information, such as your medicines, any allergies you may have, and your medical history.
Once your My Health Record is created your doctor, hospitals and other healthcare providers involved in your care can automatically access your health information, unless you set up your privacy controls.
Using these privacy controls lets you decide which healthcare providers can access your My Health Record and what they can view. You can also ask a provider not to upload certain information. If you decide you don’t want a My Health Record you can cancel it at any time.
Click on Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.oaic.gov.au/myhealthrecord/privacy/