Information Therapy - Dial 'D' for Doctor

5 reasons to make this video go viral – its funny, its very helpful, its amazing and its spectacular So go ahead and spread good health ! Watch this short video and pass it to each contact on your email list.  Lets’ create awareness and make this video go viral ! INFORMATION THERAPY Information Therapy - Dial 'D' for Doctor What to do when you realize that you have missed a dose of your medicine? Dial 'D' for Doctor ! Do you use complicated medical terms which sounds like Greek and Latin to your patients ? Why should you use Information Therapy ? Traditionally, Indian patients were passive and were quite happy to leave all medicaldecisions to the doctor. However, times have changed, and internet positive patients are hungry for information and want to work in partnership with their doctor. This is a huge challenge -- and a great opportunity as well. We feel patients are the largest untapped healthcare resource and that Information Therapy is Powerful Medicine ! Embed code: http://youtu.be/QUCElGPZ1Jc Just because you haven't been trained as a doctor doesn't minimize the important role you play in preventing errors with regard to your medicines, or those for your family! As the patient (or the caregiver), you have a great deal at stake in the success of your drug therapy and should assert your right - and your responsibility - to ask relevant questions. By the very process of asking questions about your medicines, you understand why you are taking them, how to take them, and what to expect so that you can detect potential errors. Ask your doctor, chemist or nurse questions about the medications. You should completely understand your health problem and what you can expect from the medicines. Read More….. Find us on * * * * * * * * Read the Book:  Using Information Therapy to Put Patients First

Changing your Doctor

Changing doctors is never easy, because, over a period of time you do build up a personal relationship with your doctor. However, you should consider changing doctors if you strongly feel that:

* the doctor is incompetent (i.e. he has ignored obvious symptoms, missed a diagnosis, prescribed the wrong drug, or can't get to the bottom of your problem);
* the doctor does not communicate with you effectively ( i.e., his explanations are not in lay person's language or no time is given to you to ask questions and bring up related problems);
* the doctor does not pay attention to your needs and concern
* you have lost confidence in the doctor's skill and ability.
* you find the doctor is too inconsiderate ( i.e., he makes you wait a long time for an appointment, he fails to return your phone calls, he does not provide clinic time during evening or weekend hours ); and
* your doctor is too expensive.

Searching a Specialist

The best way of beginning the search is by asking your doctor. To start with, your doctor knows you and your situation better than any other physician, also since most doctors are aware of the accomplishments of "super-specialists" who practice at large university hospitals or research based facilities, your doctor can help you identify there experts. If you can find a book relating to your problem, then the author (if he is a doctor) is likely to be a good choice. The other option is to find the name of a doctor or the head of a clinic or department which is actively publishing their medical research in this field (you can easily do this by doing a Medline search). This doctor (or the head of the clinic) is likely to be an authority in the subject, and will be well-informed of the latest advances in the field. Many patients naively assume that all they need to do to get good medical care is to make a beeline for the west. However, do not automatically assume that just because you go to the USA, the UK or Germany, you will find a competent doctor - you need to do your homework thoroughly before making the trip!

A Bad Doctor

In contrast, a bad doctor is one who:

* Does not value your time, and makes you wait interminably on a routine basis
* Is more interested in treating your reports than in treating you
* Does not spend enough time with you
* Seems to be too busy and rushed all the time
* Orders tests whether or not they are needed
* Does not explain your options to you
* Discourages questions or refuses to answer them
* Promises too much.
* Makes remarks like "that's my secret."
* Doesn't explain clearly what he is doing during treatment. Sometimes, if you are a victim of a rare or complex problem, you may need to find a “Doctor’s Doctor" i.e. the best doctor in the city, country or the world for your particular problem. How do you go about locating such a doctor?

Useful criteria to consider while selecting a doctor

Useful criteria to consider while selecting a doctor are as follows:

* Is the location of the doctor's clinic important? (In other words, How far do I have to travel to see the doctor? Is it convenient for me? Is there parking space?)
* Is the hospital to which the doctor admits patients important to me?
* Are factors such as the age, sex, race, and religion of the doctor important?
* Do I prefer a solo consultation or a group practice?
* Do I have to choose a doctor who is covered by my insurance plan?
* Is the doctor duly qualified and in which field? For example, a patient with a heart problem may prefer to see a cardiologist, rather than a general physician.
* What days/hours does the doctor see patients? Are the timings convenient to me?
* Does the doctor ever make house calls?
* How much in advance do I have to make appointments?
* What is the length of an average visit?
* In case of an emergency, how fast can I see the doctor?
* Who takes care of patients after hours or when the doctor is away?

Influenced by a doctor’s degree?

While looking for the ideal doctor, beware of quacks! While many of us tend to be overawed by a long list of alphabets behind the doctor's name, you need to remember that not all of them are legitimate degrees. For example, many doctors will use the 'embellishments' FICA (USA) and FRSH (London) to give the impression that they have been trained abroad. These acronyms are not qualifications- they merely indicate memberships in a society abroad, which are open to anyone- even a barber- on payment of a nominal fee, can acquire such memberships!

The Doctor’s Clinic

While it is true that many mediocre doctors flaunt posh clinics, the setting in which the doctor functions can reveal a lot about him. Is the clinic located in a decent building? Is public access easy? Has the doctor bothered to provide the basic amenities you need (e.g., drinking water, comfortable seating)? What kind of reading material is kept in the waiting area? (Old and torn magazines should qualify as a negative mark. Patient educational literature and current issues of health magazines indicate that the doctor respects your waiting time and wants to use it to educate you). Are the office staff members helpful? How do they answer the telephone? How do they treat other patients? You can learn a lot about a doctor and his practice from the personality of his employees: remember that efficient, caring physicians tend to hire competent, friendly personnel!

To find a doctor

The best time to find a doctor is when you don't need one! This statement may seem paradoxical, but finding the right doctor when you are ill becomes much more difficult, because of the stress of the illness - as well as the pressure of time. Ask your friends for recommendations. A good source of referrals can be nurses and other paramedical staff. If you have a friend who is a doctor, seek his advice as well.

More Benefits…

An assurance of continued health may be the most valuable benefit of teaming up with a good primary care physician. Your lifestyle plays a major role in shaping your health and well being in the long run. You, in tandem with your doctor, can define your health goals, analyze your habits and get started on the basics to maintain or improve your health, now and in the future. Your working relationship with your doctor can help prevent serious illness from developing down the line apart from enhancing your well-being, the quality of your life, and your independence for years to come - the biggest benefit of all.

Benefits offered by a Primary Care Doctor

Ideally, a primary care doctor can offer you the following benefits:

* A good starting point in the healthcare system. Whatever your concern or problem may be, your primary care doctor will either be able to either treat it or determine precisely when and where to send you for specialized help. In either case, you have the distinct advantage of a physician's expertise, and any trips through the medical 'maze' will be less confusing for you...and less of a hassle.
* Preventive healthcare. Your primary care doctor can help you with disease prevention, as well as prompt intervention during any illness.
* Continuity of care. You and your doctor can develop and sustain an on going health partnership. He will get to know your concerns, and you won't have to repeat your history each time you fall ill or need treatment. Your primary care doctor will know you as well as any chronic problems or potential troubles you may be facing. He will also be familiar with your family history.
* One stops shopping. You can consult the same doctor for a variety of conditions, and often, he can treat both you and your family. Your family doctor can take you and your family through pregnancy, childbirth and childcare; instilling the concept of good health at an early age.
* Lower cost and convenience. Primary care doctors generally serve large populations of patients, so they encounter and become familiar with managing the most common medical maladies. They have been trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions cost- effectively. And, in most cases, it's easier to gain asses to a primary care doctor than a specialist, since general practices are usually geared up for maximum efficiency.

Why choose a Primary care Doctor?

Choosing a good primary care doctor is perhaps the most important step you can take to insure that you get good medical care. A primary care doctor is much more than a quick fix 'craftsman' for an acute illness; he can become your healthcare partner in the long haul...helping you to establish your health goals and periodically evaluating how you're doing while treating any illnesses that come up along the way.

Your Primary care Doctor

First of all, you need to find a primary-care doctor; i.e., someone who will provide medical care for your whole family; carry out regular checkups; and treat common illnesses. Such a doctor is a usually a general practitioner (also known as a family physician in today's trendy world) or a general physician. Women may prefer a gynecologist, and for your children you may choose to go to a pediatrician. A primary care doctor is trained to recognize common health problems in the patient as a whole; in other words, his "specialty" is comprehensive care of a patient, either on a short or long-term basis.

The Perfect Doctor

The perfect doctor would treat you as an intelligent person, have plenty of time, as well as infinite wisdom, charge low fees, be totally honest yet compassionate, have a conveniently located clinic and understand your emotional as well as medical problems. While you may never find such a doctor, you need to keep your picture of your ideal doctor in your mind when you are looking for the physician of your choice.

Certain categories of patients can be particularly irksome or tiresome

For instance, doctors dislike patients who:

* Expect to be treated on a priority basis.
* Are always late.
* Waste time needlessly.
* Ask the same questions endlessly.
* Think they know all the answers.
* Do not value the doctor's privacy or personal time.
* Do not follow instructions.
* Go 'doctor shopping' i.e., change doctors all the time.
* Don't pay their fees on time. It's always helpful to put yourself in the other person's shoes; i.e., to see things from your doctor's point of view! The ideal patient would be one who:
* Comes to appointments on time, or is thoughtful enough to phone to cancel them.
* Tries to explain exactly what's bothering him; i.e., he can express his anxieties and apprehensions clearly.
* Answers questions honestly.
* Volunteers any important information that the doctor may not specifically ask about, including family history.
* Lets the doctor know if cannot follow his directions and specifies the reasons why.
* Takes medications as directed, strictly adhering to the dose schedule.
* Expresses his dissatisfaction in a courteous manner

Try to do your best to become an ideal patient, and learn to take an active interest in your medical care. After all, this is the only body you have! It's a simple fact of life that patients who know how to make the most of their doctor get better medical care. Therefore, it's very important that you learn how to do so!

Your Medical Records

Make sure you carry photocopies of all your medical records and tests. You can give them to the doctor for his files, if needed - but keep your originals with you - they are your property! Also, make sure that you have clearly understood the contents of your medical records so that you can explain the details to another doctor if needed.

Speak out when you are made to wait too long!

While an occasional delay is unavoidable (since a medical emergency could require your doctor's immediate attention), if you are made to wait for an eternity each time, something is seriously wrong with the doctor's attitude towards patients. For any inordinate delay, the clinic staff should be courteous enough to provide an explanation, and, if needed, an alternative appointment. As an example of efficient patient management, if a doctor at the famous Mayo Clinic in the USA makes you wait for more than 30 minutes without an explanation, you can complain to the hospital manager who will rectify matters.

Waiting for your doctor to see you

The most common complaint of patients is that they are made to wait for ages before the doctor can see them! It is only because patients put up with such a situation that doctors get away with this unpardonable behavior. After all, no doctor would remain very busy if all his patients decide to refuse to wait for him! Some patients seem to believe that the longer they have to wait outside the doctor's clinic, the better he must be, since he has so many patients clamoring for his attention. This is simply not true! No matter how hard-pressed a doctor may be, he can always space out his appointments, so that you never have to wait for more than an hour to see him.

Talk to your physician

What happens if you and your doctor differ about a treatment option? Let me point out that there's a right way of approaching your doctor and a wrong way. It's simply a matter of mutual respect; you wouldn't want your doctor to assume the worst about you, so, on a reciprocal basis, don't assume the worst about him! Often, if you can put across your feelings and apprehensions in the right way, you can get your doctor to help you. Explain your needs to the physician in a polite way, without any belligerence or hostility. Remember that you are both on the same side - yours!

It is your Right to know your answers!

Try to find a friend or relative to accompany you for the consultation, as his or her presence can be very useful. He or she can help reduce your anxiety, give you courage to ask the relevant questions, and also help you to interpret the doctor's statements. As mentioned earlier, do not hesitate to ask questions (and more questions); never mind how many other patients are waiting outside the doctor's clinic, or how stupid the questions may seem to you. When you are with the doctor, his only focus of interest should be you, and it's his job to provide answers. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask. Be courteous but assertive while asking questions and obtaining information, but don't turn aggressive or antagonistic. Listen carefully to what your doctor says, and in case of doubt and ambiguity, do not leave till these have been dispelled. Remember, the word doctor is derived from the Latin root docere, which means 'to teach'. Therefore, look for a doctor who is willing to share his knowledge with you!

It is your Right to know your answers!

Try to find a friend or relative to accompany you for the consultation, as his or her presence can be very useful. He or she can help reduce your anxiety, give you courage to ask the relevant questions, and also help you to interpret the doctor's statements. As mentioned earlier, do not hesitate to ask questions (and more questions); never mind how many other patients are waiting outside the doctor's clinic, or how stupid the questions may seem to you. When you are with the doctor, his only focus of interest should be you, and it's his job to provide answers. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask. Be courteous but assertive while asking questions and obtaining information, but don't turn aggressive or antagonistic. Listen carefully to what your doctor says, and in case of doubt and ambiguity, do not leave till these have been dispelled. Remember, the word doctor is derived from the Latin root docere, which means 'to teach'. Therefore, look for a doctor who is willing to share his knowledge with you!