Navigating the Healthcare System: Tips From an Insider
As a medical professional, I've learned a few things about navigating the healthcare system. One of the most important things is that it can be complicated. From insurance to billing, there are lots of moving parts in the system. It's also important to know what you're getting into when you see a doctor or dentist or have an appointment with your pharmacist — especially if you're going through treatment for something like cancer or diabetes. In today's post, I'm going to share some insider tips on navigating this complex system so that you can get the best possible care for yourself or someone else who needs it.
Issues With the Healthcare System
While healthcare is supposed to be a well-oiled machine, the system often fails to get its job done. As a result, many people feel lost in their own healthcare journey. They may not know where they should go for their treatment or what their options are. They may experience barriers when trying to access care and feel frustrated because they don't know who can help them solve the problem at hand.
This can lead to less effective care or even worse outcomes when it comes down to issues like medical errors, which happen far too often in our modern world of medicine. Unfortunately, passive engagement from patients plays a role here as well—patients can become accustomed to being told what is going on with their health,failing to take control of their own health outcomes and the outcomes for loved ones who depend on them for support in times of need too.
4 Steps to Safer Healthcare
As a healthcare professional, I've spent years working with patients and their families. I've seen how difficult it can be for people to receive the care they need.
Here are four steps you can take to ensure that you're getting the safest and most appropriate care possible:
Keep a record of your medical history and current medications.
It is important to keep an accurate record of your medical history and current medications. Your healthcare providers should be able to share with you what they know about your health. However, they are not always aware of every treatment you may have received in the past or are receiving from another provider. This can lead to confusion or mistakes when reviewing records or making diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
It's important that you take charge of keeping track of your own medical history and current medications so that any new provider has access to the information needed for them to provide the best care possible for their patient.
Prepare for doctor visits.
When you sit down with your doctor, it's important to be prepared with questions. You need to know what's going on and what the plan is. What are the next steps? How will this affect my health? What lab work do I need done?
I suggest that you ask these three questions at every appointment:
What is my main problem?
What do I need to do?
Why is it important for me to do this?
Diagnostic errors are the most common, catastrophic and costly of all medical errors—resulting in thousands of patients suffering serious harm every year. It's important to ask questions to make sure you are getting the proper diagnosis. These questions could include:
What do you think it is?
What else could it be?
Could it be more than one thing?
If you are feeling unsupported by your doctor, or that you're not receiving a proper diagnosis, it's important to seek a second opinion. When getting a second opinion, the doctor will review your history and give their own opinion on your diagnosis and treatment plan. You may receive new information that will allow you to make the best decision for your own health.
Prevent infections/ask caregivers to wash their hands.
Hand washing is the #1 way to prevent an infection, and 50% of providers fail to perform hand hygiene. It's important to ask all members of your healthcare team to wash their hands. It's extremely important immediately before touching a patient, before performing an aseptic task or handling invasive medical devices, after contact with contaminated surfaces and after touching a patient or the patient's immediate environment.
Healthcare providers not washing their hands can lead to potential infections that could worsen their patient's condition or even lead them into the hospital. Make sure that everyone providing care understands this important practice.
Use an advocate/be an advocate.
You should also consider bringing someone with you to any doctor's appointments or other healthcare-related events. This can be a friend or family member, but it is typically best if that person has been through the same experience and can therefore relate to your situation. This type of support is especially important if you are not able to convey what you need when speaking for yourself.
Sometimes people who have never been in the medical system may not understand how things work. If this is the case, they might unintentionally say something that could make them seem unsupportive or even hostile toward your health needs and/or desires. Having someone there who understands your situation will help ensure that all conversations are carried out in a supportive manner—which ultimately leads to better results.
Healthcare is a complex and confusing world, but with a little bit of preparation, you can navigate it with ease. Whether you’re trying to understand your options or tracking down the best specialists for your needs, I hope these tips will help you make the most of your healthcare experience.