You’ll have to make health decisions for yourself and your family throughout your life. These choices will influence your overall well-being and the quality and cost of your care. People who take the time to investigate their options, discuss them with their medical providers and explore all the possibilities tend to have the most confidence about their decisions. It’s fair to say that patients who work with their doctors are happier with the care they receive and the results they achieve.
Why should you partner with your doctor to make decisions? Shouldn’t they know what to do? There are often several approaches to diagnosing and treating a health problem. And it's not always clear what choices are best for you. You are more likely to feel better about the chosen approach if it is the one best suited to your needs and values. Sometimes the best choice is to say "no" to care you don't need.
A health equation
The best formula for making health decisions is to combine the most reliable medical facts with your personal values. These include your beliefs, fears, lifestyle and experiences, which all play a role in helping you make decisions about your health.
Put more simply:
Medical Information + Your Information = Wise Health Decisions
How to make a wise health decision
The following are simple steps for you to follow when considering a care choice. Depending on the decision, the process may take a few minutes, a few hours or several weeks. Take as much time as you need to arrive at the choice that’s right for you.
- Know your options. Tell your doctor that you want to share in making the decision. Ask your doctor to clearly outline the options, as well as the pros and cons.
- Get the facts. Do your own research and investigate the options using reliable resources. Avoid content from those who are not experts. Make sure the information you collect is based on sound medical research, not the results of a single study or facts published by a company that will profit off of you using its product.
- Consider what matters to you. Take your own needs and values into account. What do you hope to achieve or have as the outcome? Talk with family members and others who will be affected by your decision. Then sort out the information you've gathered. Make a list of pros and cons as you see them for each option. You may want to share your list with your doctor to ensure you have all the information you need.
- Follow-up questions. Write down what you expect will happen if you choose a particular option. Ask your doctor if your perceived outcome is reasonable. Circle back to any outstanding questions you have pertaining to the side effects, pain, recovery time, cost or long-term effects of that option. Then see if you still feel it's the best choice for you.
- Make an action plan. After you and your doctor have made a decision, find out what you can do to promote the best possible outcome. Write down the steps that you need to take to get there. Think positively about your decision and follow your doctor's advice. Remember, when you share in making a decision, you share the responsibility for the outcome.
Include a resident physician as part of your internal medicine care team
The Parkview Residency Center offers the unique opportunity to have a resident physician as part of your care team. Patients with a resident physician as part of their care team have access to:
- An individualized care plan with oversight by two highly qualified physicians.
- The latest health information, practices and treatments.
- Focused attention to help you achieve your health goals, such as understanding your personal test results.
For more information, visit parkview.com/ResidencyFAQs.
Copyrighted material adapted with permission from Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
