Medical Care It’s funny. People think of surgery as “major” when it happens to them and “minor” when it’s being done to someone else! In reality, surgery is thought to be major when it involves any vital organs and/or requires a long time period to perform. The following words classify various surgeries: Curative A procedure […]
Medical Care Know Your Health Plan * Find out what the plan covers. Ask your employer, insurance company, or use the Web site you are given to get information. * Read your health plan’s policy and member handbook or Web site information. If you don’t understand something, talk to your health benefits staff at work.
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Medical Care The very first thing you should do if a doctor suggests surgery is to get the opinion of a second doctor. Programs to encourage patients to pursue other options have been established all over the country in an effort to curtail unnecessary surgery. Ask your physician or someone else you trust to recommend
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Medical Care It has been estimated that at least one-quarter of medical tests done each year are not needed. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 60 percent of the study’s 2,800 pre-surgery tests were not warranted because there were no symptoms indicating that the tests should be
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Medical Care Knowing what to expect prior to surgery can reduce pre-operation stress and make you feel more comfortable. * The hospital will have you sign a surgical consent form. Take the time to read it over. Ask your doctor any questions you may have. * Expect a visit from the anesthesiologist or the surgeon
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Medical Care There are a variety of patient’s rights and providers of them. One, called “The Patient Care Partnership” is from the American Hospital Association (AHA). It gives guidelines for both patients and staff to let you know your rights in a hospital. These include: * High-quality hospital care. * A clean and safe environment.
Medical Care Ambulatory surgery is surgery done on an outpatient basis. This can be done in a hospital. It can also be done at a freestanding center. One reason ambulatory surgeries are more common now than in the past is advanced medical practices. This includes the use of anesthesias that wear off quicker and have
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Medical Exams Most of the time X-rays are necessary, but it’s up to the patient to question them anyway. You must stay alert to the possibility of being exposed to harmful levels of radiation through unnecessary X-rays, both medical and dental. The risks of overexposure can include sterility, birth defects, and the development of cancer
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Medical Care Diagnosis * What is my diagnosis? * Is my condition chronic or acute? * Is there anything I can do to cure, treat, and/or prevent it from getting worse? * Is my condition contagious or genetic? * How certain are you about this diagnosis? Treatment * What is the recommended treatment? * Is
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Medical Care Describe the Problem Be Able to Answer These Questions About Your Current Problem and Complaints * What do you think the problem is? * Are you in pain? If yes: – What does the pain feel like? Is it a sharp, dull, and/or throbbing pain? – Where is the pain? * When did
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