What you need to know about advocating for your health
Who are the different health care providers or professionals I can see?
Medical doctors and nurse practitioners
who can help with physical injuries and illnesses, such as a broken wrist or coughing
Therapists
who can help talk and work through emotional problems and feelings such as anxiety or depression
Psychiatrists
who can help with mental illness, such as depression or bipolar disorder, and can give medicine to treat it
How can I make the most of my appointment with a healthcare provider?
Prepare for your appointment
Check in with reception when you arrive
Talk openly with the healthcare provider
Follow through with the plan
What do boundaries look like?
Prepare for your appointment
Make a list of what you want to talk about, including any concerns or symptoms you have, and how long you’ve had them
Write down your health habits and history, including whether you smoke, how much you drink, any drugs you may use, any health conditions you have, medicines you take, and family health history
Practice what you’ll say
Write down your health habits and history, including whether you smoke, how much you drink, any drugs you may use, any health conditions you have, medicines you take, and family health history
Check in when you arrive
Have your ID, insurance card, and copay (if you have one) ready when you walk up to the reception desk to check in
Read and fill out any papers given to you, which may include a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) or privacy form, emergency contact, and medical history
Ask about a patient portal
Ask if the healthcare provider you are seeing uses a patient portal to communicate with patients, and if so, how you can sign up
Talk openly with the provider
Ask your doctor any questions you have, starting with the ones that are most important to you, and write the answers down
Be honest and provide details, including things about your lifestyle like how active you are or how often you consume alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, as well as your feelings, emotions, and symptoms. Ask questions if you don’t understand
Make sure you understand
Explain what the provider said to you in your own words. You can say something like, “I think what you’re saying is… is that right?” or “I want to make sure I understand… did I get that right?”
Follow through with the plan
Follow the plan you made with the provider, like getting medicine at the pharmacy or scheduling an appointment with another provider
If you need to, schedule a follow-up appointment with that provider
Call your health care provider if you:
Have any side effects after taking a medicine
Have symptoms that get worse
Have worsening feelings of depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts
Haven’t gotten results of a test you’ve had – don’t assume no news is good news
Don’t understand your test results
Frequently asked questions:
Why is it important to be honest with my provider?
If your provider doesn’t know everything that is going on, they may not be able to fully help.
What if I’m worried about the cost of the appointment or treatment?
If you’re worried, call ahead and ask about the cost of appointment and ask what payment options are available.
What if I don’t understand something the provider says?
If you don’t understand something, ask the provider to re-explain in a different way.
What is a patient portal?
A secure, online account that you can use to access your medical records, make appointments, and contact your provider.