Making the Grade

Up
Empowering Patients 
To Be
Their Own
Health Care Advocates

 

Voice4Patients.Com
PO Box 273
Warren, ME.  04864
www.voice4patients.com 
voice4patients@aol.com

National Support Services 
PULSEAmerica.Org
(719) 564-0280
 


Voice4Patients.Com

Patients and Providers
Partners in Health Care


In This Issue:  Do You Make the Grade?


Be the Best Patient You Can Be!

Ask Questions

Be A Partner

Choose a Healthy Lifestyle

First Time Consultation with a new Doctor

Introduce Yourself:
Share Your Positive Features, Fears and Needs with the Doctor

Ask the Dr. about their:

Availability Coverage

Hospital Affiliations

Background and Experience

Discuss meaning of DNR, Advanced Directives

Ask about their Preventative Medicine Advice

Discuss any Holistic vs. Full and Aggressive Medical Standards of Care for your health problems

Discuss Medical Decisions that are not Covered by Insurance

Your Values and Your Pocket Book

 

Bring to Your Appointment a Complete List of

All prescribed medications

All vitamins and other supplements

All herbal and over the counter remedies

Share Reasons for the Above Remedies

Ask any Questions. No Question  is unreasonable



 Discuss


Immediate Symptoms, Problems and Concerns

Diets

Exercise Programs

Practitioners or Web Sites Consulted

Long Range Health Goals and Concerns

Notable Injuries, Illnesses, Surgeries

Diagnostic Studies: Blood, Scans, X-rays, Endoscopies

Family Diseases or Conditions

Stressful Things Affecting You, Your Family or Friends

Up-to-date on Immunizations?

Screening Exams for Cancer, Diabetes, etc.

 

Preventative Medicine Questionnaire

             Are you happy?

Do you eat breakfast daily?

Do you wear seat belts?

Is your body fat percentage 15% if an adult male or 20% if female?

Have you had a diptheria-tetanus booster shot within 10 years?

Are green & yellow vegetables and the cabbage family (Brassicas) a frequent part of your diet?

Do you drink 5-6 glasses of water daily?

Do you avoid saturated dietary fats?

Do you include a lot of fiber in your diet?

Do you include 30 minutes of continuous and strenuous (aerobic) exercise in your schedule at least 5 days a week?

Do you wake rested in the morning most of the time?

Are you able to describe your diet as predominately vegetarian?

Do you have mutually supportive relations with people in your family, your community and at work?

Do you observe regular spiritual practices in your daily life?

Are you able to take time off when you need to? Do you do it?

Do you laugh heartily, sob when you cry and have total body orgasm?

Do you enjoy recreation regularly in your life?

Do you avoid eating within three hours of bed time?

Do you have periodic checkups for glaucoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and blood in the stool, as appropriate for age and sex?

Do you do self-examination for abnormalities of your skin, your gums, your breasts and your testicles?

Are you aware of health risks you may have due to family history or your own daily life style habits?

Do you feel your daily work is productive and meaningful to you and for others?

Do you smile more than you frown?

Do you exchange touches and hugs with others daily?

Do you listen and talk in equal measure?

Do you know your feelings and express them easily?

Does your food digest comfortably?

Do you drink liquids with your meals?

Is your workplace comfortable?

Do your toes, chest and abdomen have freedom from restriction in their movement?

Are your airways (nose, mouth, throat and lungs) smoke free?

Do you use alcohol infrequently or not at all?

Do you abstain from mind altering drugs? Caffeine?

If approaching middle age and female, have you considered calcium supplements, regular exercise and estrogen replacement therapy?

Would you like to take a Life Style Assessment Questionnaire?

 

For a Printed Newsletter
Send a S.A.S.E. to:

Voice4Patients.Com
PO BOX 273
Warren, Maine 04864
 

 

DISCLAIMER: The content provided on this web site is for information purposes only. It is intended to be a resource for educational material and is not designed to provide medical advice.  Please consult your health care provider regarding any medical issues you have relating to symptoms, conditions, diseases, diagnosis, treatments and side-effects.  Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007