If you want to get the most out of your health provider visits, you have to become a more informed health care consumer. Most visits to the doctor’s office are short and you probably spend more time in the waiting room than you do in the exam room. Once you finally make it to the exam room you may be only allotted a short amount of time, so it’s very important to be prepared.  With a little groundwork you can get the most out of your doctor’s visit.  You will feel the benefits of your time spent there and the benefits of being on top of your health. Most of it has to do with knowing the best questions to ask so because of that I’ve created this list to prepare for a new health care provider visit. 

1.       What is your general philosophy about health care?

2.       What are your credentials or board certification?

3.       How much time can I expect to have with you during each appointment?

4.       How many questions or health concerns should I discuss with you in one appointment?

5.       Knowing that you are extremely busy, what can I do to make sure we both make the most of our appointment time?

6.       If I need to get a hold of you after hours or for an emergency what is the procedure?

7.       From your perspective, what is the biggest health problem I’m at risk for today, and what are the most important things I can do to stay vital and healthy?

8.       What are your thoughts about alternative therapies such as herbal supplements, massage therapy, acupuncture, etc., as part of a treatment plan?

9.       What is your policy for working out a payment plan if I fall on hard times and my insurance won’t pay for a particular service?

10.   I’d like to work with you as a partner in my health care. Please feel free to give me “homework” assignments if you feel I need to do some research in order to make good decisions for myself.

11.   Is there anything else I should know about your practice and your philosophy regarding health care? (Note: Always check to see if the provider accepts your insurance.)

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com

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Posted by:  Julie Dybbro, ARNP, PhD(c)
Complete Women’s
Health Care
Olympia, WA

« Hello World - My Wise Guides Is Here!Preparing for Your Health Care Appointments

In today’s world many of us are scrambling to do as much as we can in each day. The time we get to spend with our health care provider is short and we need to make the most of every appointment. Preparing for your visit is a great way to get the most out of your short time with your provider. Get ready by documenting your problem, the issues you have faced, the things you’ve done to help get better, and the way you’ve felt. You will also want to have a list of questions to ask as well as an update of your current medications and vitamins to share. This preparation will help ensure that you are prepared for your appointment and will give you a much better chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis.

Appointment Guide

· Have your questions ready in advance to make sure you ask everything you want to know.

· You may have several health issues to discuss, but in order to get maximum care you will want to make sure to focus on one or two problems at each appointment. If you have several issues you might want to ask for a longer appointment or schedule a second appointment. Prioritize your list!

· Bring a list of all the medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are currently taking along with dosage and frequency. See Medication and Vitamins section of this binder.

· At the end of your appointment write down your next appointment – date, time, and reason.

Health care coverage is a hot topic and that should be of interest to all of us. Health care costs are high and getting higher, and on top of that, we’re shouldering more of the costs. It is important to track your insurance claims; reviewing what was covered and what was not. You may find that a claim was denied when it should have been paid. You deserve your rightful coverage, so keep track of all claims and payments! If there is a discrepancy – even if you’re not actually sure but simply have a hunch – write a letter to your insurance company asking for clarification.

Insurance Information

Keep your policy information and numbers in one place. Important Tip: Make copies of your policies (the detailed list of what is covered and what isn’t) as well as a copy of all health care providers in the network.

2. Insurance Claim Tracker

Keep  track the dates, statement numbers, total amount billed, and what the insurance paid. It is important to keep this up-to-date because you may be shocked at some of the discrepancies that will occur.

3. Insurance Interaction Log

Keep an insurance interaction log and track the calls or letters you’ve sent to the insurance company. It is very important to keep a log of all interaction.

Hints:

Make a copy of your insurance card AND your insurance policies and place them in this section of your Health File. These will come in handy if you need to look up a procedure that might or might not be covered.

If you have concerns about claims that are denied it is in your best interest to dispute the claim.

Keep copies and notes on ALL correspondence.

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com

http://www.mywiseguides.com/card_form.php

Complete the emergency card, print it and put it in your wallet. Send each member of your family to My Wise Guides to fill out a card for themselves. They are sized to fit conveniently into a wallet or business card case. Your personal emergency contacts, your health care professionals, medication and vitamins you are currently taking, etc. will be available if needed. This card could save your life!

Peace of mind is priceless…

Eileen Kollmeyer
My Wise Guides
Email: eileenk@mywiseguides.com
Phone: 206-369-5305
www.mywiseguides.com

In today’s world many of us are scrambling to do as much as we can in each day. The time we get to spend with our health care provider is short and we need to make the most of every appointment. Preparing for your visit is a great way to get the most out of your short time with your provider. Get ready by documenting your problem, the issues you have faced, the things you’ve done to help get better, and the way you’ve felt. You will also want to have a list of questions to ask as well as an update of your current medications and vitamins to share. This preparation will help ensure that you are prepared for your appointment and will give you a much better chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis.

Appointment Guide

• Have your questions ready in advance to make sure you ask everything you want to know.

• You may have several health issues to discuss, but in order to get maximum care you will want to make sure to focus on one or two problems at each appointment. If you have several issues you might want to ask for a longer appointment or schedule a second appointment. Prioritize your list!

• Bring a list of all the medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are currently taking along with dosage and frequency. See Medication and Vitamins section of this binder.

• At the end of your appointment write down your next appointment – date, time, and reason.

Click here for the My Wise Guides FREE Appointment Guide

Eileen Kollmeyer
My Wise Guides
Email: eileenk@mywiseguides.com
Phone: 206-369-5305
www.mywiseguides.com

Managing and tracking your own health issues or concerns is very important. Trackers will give your provider a clear and comprehensive picture of your situation and make it easier to recommend necessary steps towards healing. This proactive role will help you partner with your provider in order to make better decisions about your health care. Here are some of the trackers I’ve made available in the My Wise Guides Health File (see “products” tab on this blog).

1. Blood Pressure Tracker

Follow your blood pressure – systolic and diastolic – especially if you have a history of high blood pressure. This information will be very important at each health care visit.

2. Blood Sugar Tracker

If you have been diagnosed with high blood sugar you will want to track your blood sugar level throughout the day. Change the times to make them work for you.

3. Exercise Tracker

Take your weight and measurements on a weekly basis to show yourself and health care provider your progress.

4. Imaging/Nuclear Medicine

Track your x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, etc.

5. Shots and Immunizations Tracker

This handy schedule and chart will assist you in keeping track of shots or immunizations. We’ve included schedules from the Department of Health and Human Services – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for your reference.

6. Surgeries and Hospitalizations Tracker

Keep track of any surgery you have had or reasons you’ve been hospitalized.

7. Tests & Procedures Tracker

Keep track of any and all tests you might have (i.e.: blood tests, urine tests, colonoscopy, etc.)

8. Therapy Tracker

 Keep track of physical therapy or physiological therapy appointments.

9. Yearly Physical Tracker

Maintain a yearly physical tracker so you can see how your health improves (or declines) every year.

Keep trackers in a place that will be easy to access on a daily basis.

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com

Medication is always prescribed to help you but sometimes it can hurt you! It is very important to keep track of medications that cause you to be sick or give you a rash or other unwanted reactions. It is also just as important to know what medications don’t mix or work together or how much is too much to take. Find out if you should avoid certain foods, other medications, supplements, or alcohol while taking your medication.

It is very important to keep track of all medication, vitamins, and herbal remedies and to keep a written history of when started, when stopped, and any symptoms you may have had. This information alone could possibly save your life in an emergency situation.

1. Current Medication and Vitamins

List all the current medication, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are taking, the amount, and the frequency with which you are taking them.

2. Medication and Vitamin History

Keep to track all medication, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking now or have taken in the past. It will come in handy when you’re asked if you’ve ever taken something and you will be able to look over your chart and determine if you have taken it and any effects it had.

3. Allergies

Keep track of any allergies you’ve had to medication and what happens when you take that medication.  You will want to chart the name of the medication, its purpose, date started, date stopped, dosage, and times, physician phone number, side effects, refill number, and pharmacy number.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

ALWAYS take an updated copy of your current medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements with you to your health care appointment.

Refill your prescriptions BEFORE you run out.

Use a pill box to organize your medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements into daily doses.

Keep a list of your current medications in your wallet or purse. Write down prescription name, dosage, and how to take them. This is helpful to have as a reference, especially when traveling.

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com

Everyone has the right to make personal decisions about their health care. You could wind up hurt or sick and unable to make decisions about medical treatments. An advance directive speaks for you if you are unable to and helps make sure your religious and personal beliefs will be respected. It is a useful legal document for an adult of any age to plan for future health care needs.

Information on Advance Directives

Purchase the HealthFile (see “products” tab of this blog) and you will receive all the information and answers you need to make decisions about creating advance directives. Some of the questions it answers are:

·         What is a health care directive?

·         Must your health care directive be followed?

·         Can you be required to make a health care directive?

·         Can you change or revoke your health care directive?

·         Who can legally make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make your own decisions and if you have made a health care power of attorney?

·         What if you already have a living will or other health care directive?

·         What does a health care directive contain?

·         A living will should do what?

·         A pre-hospital medical care directive should do what?

·         Who should have copies of your health care directives?

Give your health care providers information on your desired directives:

·         Health Care Directive

·         Health Care Power of Attorney

·         Living Will

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to give your health provider the name and contact number of your primary health care provider but you didn’t have the information at your fingertips? Keep your important numbers in one place to use as a quick reference guide. It can be given to your family in case of an emergency situation. It can also be given to your physician/s so they know who else is involved in your medical care. (Notes and/or updates on your condition can be sent from one physician to another quickly if you can readily provide them with the names and addresses of one another.)

1. Emergency Contacts

List 3 people contacts in case of emergency.

2. Health Team Contacts

It is important to keep a list of the providers and practitioners that comprise your health care team.

Make copies of your Contact form and give to your health care provider.Always get to know the nurse and receptionist in each office; they are the key tohelping you get the care you deserve.

Eileen Kollmeyer

My Wise Guides

Email:  eileenk@mywiseguides.com

Phone:  206-369-5305

www.mywiseguides.com