How to Be a Good Patient

Being a patient is not easy, it usually involves fear, pain, stress, uncertainty and sometimes serious life changes. It's best to avoid being a patient. However, if you should get tagged with the nomenclature here are some tips and ideas on how to be a good patient.

A good patient is a well informed health-care consumer.
As a well informed health care consumer you can do the following:

PATIENT INVOLVEMENT
Become actively involved with your health care team in making decisions about your care. Being an active participant in your care empowers you to understand your prescribed treatments and how they will affect your recovery. It also enables you to be a knowledgeable and effective member of your patient care team.

ASK QUESTIONS
Ask questions about your care. Make sure the answers are explained to you clearly. Ask more questions so that you understand the explanations given to you.

GAIN KNOWLEDGE
Read about your illness to gain knowledge and insight about your condition.
This will help you to comprehend the logic of your care and to ask intelligent questions to your benefit. There are numerous web-sites that you can research to get information about your condition. This will give you up-to date information that will increase the understanding
of your condition.

MEDICATIONS
When taking medications ask what is the purpose of the medications?
How do they work? What are the side effects to look out for? What should you do
if you experience these side effects? Ask your doctor to explain in plain, simple lay-peoples' language so you can understand and know what to expect. Most health-care professionals appreciate a patient who is interested in their own care. They will be happy to share this information with you.

SECOND OPINION
Getting a second opinion from another doctor is a great idea, if you don't feel certain that you want to go along with an initial decision. Talking with friends and/or family members who have had the same condition is helpful in getting first hand information about their experiences.

PATIENT RIGHTS
Familiarize yourself with the information regarding patient rights and patient safety goals. Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organization (JACHO) has compiled a list of patient rights and patient safety goals, these patient safety goals and patient rights, ensure that high standards of care are maintained in health-care facilities. Check these out and more at www.jointcommision.org. Make sure the hospital from which you are obtaining your care has been accredited by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health-Care Organization (JACHO). At an accredited hospital you know they are practicing high standards of patient care.

The goal of your health care team is to give you the best care possible and to return you to optimum health. You are the most important person on that team so, stay involved, stay informed and participate in your care.

Maybe you could avoid being a patient by practicing prevention. That is, having a proper diet, adequate rest and exercise. Pampering yourself with massages, yoga and meditation to reduce stressors. Having a positive attitude staying connected with family and friends, taking care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. With all this, sometimes you still get tagged as a patient so, practice these tips and you will have prepared yourself to be a good patient.

You can find more information and be a more informed health-care consumer at:
Agency for Health-care Research and Quality www.ahrq.gov and www.healthcare411.org
Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine www.iom.edu
U.S. Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov