Are you doing everything before, during and after your medical appointments to help yourself get the best health care and outcome? Probably not! Fortunately, doctors have suggestions for ways patients can better manage their care and get the most of out of medical appointments. Read on to learn what doctors want patients to know, so […]
Surgical Dangers – What You Need to Know
It’s every patient’s worst nightmare – your surgeon makes a mistake, putting you in danger. The doctor performs the wrong operation or operates on the wrong body part. Or your doctor leaves something inside your body, gives you the wrong medication, or leaves in the middle of your procedure! Learn more about these surgical dangers […]
Safety Concerns for Patient Hand-offs
With any communication, it’s important to provide clear, understandable information. If you misunderstand your spouse’s instructions for heating up dinner, a little aggravation boils up along with the food. However, communication issues can lead to much more than an aggravation when your health is at stake. Effective communication among medical staff is essential when patient […]
What You Need to Know About Medical Tests
Tests are an important part of medicine. They help doctors determine a diagnosis and possible treatments. But, testing, and getting the results, is not a seamless process. Firstly, it’s not uncommon for doctors prescribe tests that are unnecessary. Secondly, mistakes in the testing process can lead to erroneous results. And lastly, doctors can fail to […]
How to Save Money on Prescription Medications
Prescription medications can be frighteningly expensive, even with insurance coverage. Have you ever suffered sticker shock? It’s happened to me on several occasions, including a co-pay of $450 for a medication we didn’t even end up using! These high prescription medication prices are hurting our collective health and our wallets. How widespread and serious is […]
How Can You Get the Best Healthcare? Actively Participate!
I was surprised to learn recently that a large percentage of patients are “passive spectators” of their own healthcare. Passive patients rely on their doctor’s experience and knowledge. As a result, they “sit back” and let the experience happen to them. Why is this important? Because your health can suffer if you don’t engage in […]
The Benefits of Concierge Medicine
Have you ever felt that your primary care doctor doesn’t have time to adequately care for you? Or do you feel that he/she doesn’t really know you? Do you hate sitting in waiting rooms while your doctor finishes up with other patients? If so, you are not alone. Primary care doctors are busy! Most primary […]
How to Choose a Hospital for Cancer Treatment
Hearing a cancer diagnosis is one of the scariest moments you can experience. I know. It happened to us in 2005 when our teenage son was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Everyone with cancer wants the best chance for a good outcome. How can you increase your chances of a good outcome? Choose a […]
Can Ethnicity and Race Impact Cancer Survival?
By zaggocare on June 15, 2020 in Managing Healthcare, Understanding Your Diagnosis and Treatment Options
A cancer diagnosis is scary for everyone. For many of us, it’s our worst fear. Clearly, we worry about the prognosis and the potentially hard treatments that lay ahead. What we shouldn’t have to worry about is how our race or ethnicity could impact our chance of having a positive outcome. But it looks fairly […]
The Importance of Shared Decision Making
Whether you are dealing with a new medical condition, or one that is progressing, it is important to take the lead role in your medical team. Historically, a doctor would tell you your diagnosis and course of treatment, and you would do your best to follow the doctor’s orders. Fortunately, times have changed, and most […]