Managing Your Medical Care

Ideally, you should have both a primary care doctor for your overall health and a specialist experienced in treating your health condition.

While there is no right or wrong way to obtain health care, common sense says you will do better if you go for the best quality you can, choose your primary care doctor and specialists with care, and maximize your time with them. Consider the hospital with which a doctor and specialists are associated when making a choice.

Do what is necessary to get a second opinion when you want one. If you get major news (even if it's good news), consider getting a second opinion.

Consider bringing a mental health professional on board to help with the emotional responses to changes in your health. 

Decide how much you want to participate in your health care. Studies indicate that patients who take an active and informed role in their health care treatment decisions are more likely to adhere to treatment, which results in better treatment outcomes. If you want to have control over your own destiny, be pro-active: 

• Learn about your health condition, including the relevant medical jargon and the markers to watch for.
• Decide what kind of relationship you want to have with your doctors.
• Keep track of your medical condition.
• Understand that you have the right to take, or not take, any drug or undergo any treatment.

Be an educated consumer before making decisions -- including about whether:

• To take drugs or undergo treaments, and, if so, where to obtain them.
• To use complementary medicines and/or therapies.
• To join a clinical trial and/orand undergo experimental treatments.

If you have more than one health condition ("Multiple Health Conditions"), thinking and acting like an educated consumer becomes even more important.

In case of an emergency, know what to do and what your rights are. If you don't have insurance or can't afford medical care, there are steps you can take  to get appropriate medical care.

If you are likely to need long term care and don't have Long Term Care Insurance, consider planning ahead to qualify for Medicaid. (If you aren't likely to need long term care because of your current health condition, the condition may not prevent you from purchasing Long Term Care Insurance).

It is your choice how to live your last days - not the doctors' and not your family members.