Full Description
The Essential Patient Handbook was written for the millions of Americans who are dissatisfied with their medical care and are looking for a practical no-nonsense way to get the help they need from their Doctors. It contains lessons learned by two Doctors (husband and wife) who endured immense challenges on the patient side of the medical care system. Here are the secrets to:
getting your Doctor to listen
Preparing information your Doctor needs to know
Understanding the reasoning behind your Doctor's questions
Asking the essential questions about tests, diagnoses, medications, surgery and second opinions
Checking for medication side effects and drug interactions
Dealing with confusing insurance and billing forms
Working with your Doctor when considering alternative and complementary medicines
Handling difficult Doctor-patient interactions
Dealing with a hospital stay
The Essential Patient Handbook will walk readers through the entire medical evaluation process, from the first question to the last. It gives them a guide to thoroughly prepare medical information before seeing a Doctor and explains why each piece of information is crucial. The information prepared with the aid of this book are symptom-specific and will help Physicians to arrive at a differential diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is established, it will help readers prepare further information that your Doctors need to learn to remain on top of your medical condition.
Contents
Preface; How to Use This Book. The Medical Evaluation Process and Developing Your Own Medical Record. What are You Complaining About? - The Chief Complaint ; Make Your Mark in History - Your History of Present Illness (HPI); Your Specific Symptoms; Blast From the Past - Your Past Medical History; All in the Family - Your Family History; Put Yourself to the Test - Your Prior Diagnostic Workup; Current and Prior Treatments; Beyond the Facts and Figures - Your Psychosocial History ; Your Current and Future Health; Did We Forget Anything? - The Review of Systems; Let's Get Physical - The Physical Examination; Testing Patients, Not Your Patience - Future Tests and Procedures; Putting it all Together - How the Doctor Arrives at the Diagnosis; To Waste Time or Not Waste Time, That is the Question - The Follow-up Visit and Specific Diagnoses. Special Situations. Your Child's Medical History; The Psychiatric Consultation for Adults and Children; Preparing the Medical Evaluation for Patients with Impaired Thinking; Whose Life is it Anyway? - Preparing Advance Directives. Questions for the Doctor. Not Asking About Test Results Is Out of the Question; Questions About Your Diagnosis and When to Get a Second Opinion; If You Don't Ask Questions About Your Medications, You Are Asking for Trouble; Surgery and Others Procedures Are Not a Cut and Dry Matter; Don't Compliment a Doctor Who Won't Discuss Complementary Medicine; Call of the Wild or Don't Get Excited When You Call Your Doctor. Other Useful Information. Don't Go Out of Your Mind When You Go Out Of Network - Understanding Medical Insurance Plans; You Don't Have to Be a Doctor to Get a Medical Education - Ignorance is NOT Bliss When It Comes to Your Health; Doctors: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Don't Let Difficult Doctors Get On Your Case; Feelings You May Have When You See the Doctor; Read this BEFORE You Go to the Hospital; Final Thoughts. Appendices; Completed History Form Example; Common Medical Errors Related to Testing; Differential Diagnosis; Medication Categories.
