Navigate the Healthcare System
Practice self-care
When it comes to your healthcare, it pays to take charge. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, getting preventative care, doing your research, and having a strong partnership with your healthcare provider has plenty of benefits. Following the guidelines and recommendations in this section can lead to a better health experience, a collaborative relationship with your care providers, and, ultimately, better health outcomes.
Did you know:
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of chronic diseases are preventable.
- The major contributors to chronic disease are an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.
Taking charge lowers healthcare costs
Good habits can save money. Taking care of yourself prevents health problems and saves money by reducing the number of office visits and medications you need. Research at Fairview Health Services in Minnesota found that patients who were actively involved in self-care saved 21% on their medical bills.
Other benefits
People who take care of their health and safety also enjoy these benefits:
✔ Improved quality of life
✔ Reduced absenteeism
✔ Increased satisfaction with healthcare
✔ Time saved
✔ Protection from long-term disease
✔ Reduced incidence of catastrophic injury or death
Three ways to take charge of your own healthcare
Your job is to take an active role in your own healthcare by following the three Ps:
- Practicing preventative care
- Paying attention to your physical wellbeing and addressing symptoms
- Partnering with your healthcare provider
Preventative care
Prevention starts at home. It includes your personal safety, making healthy lifestyle choices, and getting preventative screenings and vaccinations.
✔ Be safe. Learn more about creating a safer lifeTake steps to avoid or reduce risk while you are at home, at work or school, driving, playing sports, and doing chores.
✔ Don’t smoke. If you’re not a smoker, congratulations! Don’t start. If you smoke, we hope that you are thinking about quitting. It is not easy giving up something that is so much a part of what you do every day. However, the reward of a tobacco-free lifestyle is remarkable. Check the websites of the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, and Smokefree.gov for more information and existing groups and resources.
✔ Get necessary care. Make sure you schedule regular healthcare checkups and recommended healthcare screenings, such as cancer and STD tests. If you are not sure where to start, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a screening guide to help you figure out what appointments you may be due for.
✔ Make healthy choices. Minimizing alcohol consumption, practicing safe sex, eating a nutrient-rich diet, getting plenty of physical activity, and finding ways to manage stress can decrease your risk factors for many illnesses.
Pay attention to your body
Being tuned in to your body and mind can help you realize when something is out of balance. You may not have considered this, but one of the most important things you can do for your wellbeing is to make wise decisions when you feel that something is wrong. Paying attention to your symptoms can also help you communicate more effectively with your healthcare provider.
When you reflect on your choices in this way, you make better healthcare decisions and use your medical services more cost-effectively. It is important to know when and how to treat yourself at home and when you should go to the doctor.
Dealing with symptoms
It is important to consider how best to deal with a symptom or complaint:
- Should you modify your lifestyle or adopt some self-care practices? For example, you might decide to take a break and do some deep breathing to relieve stress that is causing a headache.
- Should you self-medicate, or take over-the-counter medicines to relieve your medical conditions or symptoms? For example, you might decide to take analgesics for a headache.
- Is it best to seek medical attention? For example, you might decide it is time to see a healthcare provider about recurring migraine headaches or because a headache is particularly acute and you sense something new is going on.
Partner with your healthcare provider
How to talk to your healthcare providerA critical aspect of taking charge of your health is being a vital member of the healthcare team. You are a partner with your providers in your healthcare. You need to actively participate in treatment decisions, make sure you know your options, recognize the underlying causes of your health conditions, and understand what you need to do. Just as importantly, you need to follow up with the recommended treatments, making sure you complete your course of care.
Remember, although you may rely on health professionals to advise you, you have the final say.
Have your personal health record at your fingertips
Keeping your own complete, updated, and easily accessible personal health record (PHR) means you can play a more active role in your healthcare.
You can create your personal health record online or on paper. Either way, it is a single place where you can keep track of:
✔ Health conditions
✔ Surgeries
✔ Medications
✔ Allergies
✔ Diagnostic tests (laboratory tests and X-rays)
✔ Immunizations and screenings
✔ Family history
One final note: Healthcare visits should not be limited to addressing an illness or symptoms. Remember to schedule regular health checkups, during which the focus is wellness and prevention. Being proactive can help identify a medical condition before symptoms appear. The frequency of well-care visits depends on your age, sex, risk factors, and family history.
