Notes From The Resident Care Coordiator

Many people think that today's faster pace in health care leaves no time for asking questions--no time for just talking with your doctor or other provider. But the truth and good communication is more important than ever before. Why? Because the focus today is on a team approach. You, as the patient, need to play an active role. The better you understand your options, the smarter your choices will be. The clearer you are about your wishes, the easier it is for your care team to give you the care you want.
Everyone Benefits
Have you heard about your right to give or refuse your informed consent to treatment? This just means your provider must give you the facts about your care firsthand then let you decide what path to take. The "facts" include:
→What's wrong with me?
→What's the outlook for the future?
→What does my doctor recommend?
→What are the risks and benefits in doing that?
→What are the other options open to me and their risks and benefits?
And don't forget: clear communication about your care helps everyone. You need the facts so you can decide what's best for you. Your doctor and other providers need to know where you stand, so they can carry out your plan of care.

Getting Ready
Clear communication doesn't just happen. It takes some time and effort. For example, here are some things you can do to get ready for your next doctor's appointment or care conference:
→If you use a hearing aid, make sure you have it with you.
→Write down your questions or concerns ahead of time.
→If you have an advance directive or values statement your doctor doesn't know about, be sure to take a copy with you.
→For an especially important appointment, think about asking a close relative or friend to go along. Two sets of ears are often better than one.

The Patient's Role
If you're like most people, talking about your own care can be hard. You might be more inclined to avoid the subject, or you might be worrying about what to do or what will happen. You probably can't change that. But focusing on your role can help.

Remember?
→Try to relax, listen, and concentrate. →Take in as much as you can of what your provider is telling you.
→Give yourself time. Don't feel rushed to make a quick decision. You have the right to think things over, to talk them over, before you choose which path is best for you.
→Ask questions. If you don't understand something, say so. Getting answers to your questions helps everyone.
This will help you participate fully in your care-which is truly a "team effort."

Until next month,
Ruth Barnett
Resident Care Coordinator

(c)2008 IlluminAge Communication Partners