Are you really your best health advocate?

I was perusing the Internet, reading health related articles and trying to get a feel of what is occupying the majority of people’s interest lately.

Sadly, there is no one single topic that blares out like the proverbial boil on the nose. When it comes to health and health care, there are just too many things out there to single one topic out to be the most important.

One thing I found curiously interesting was a recent poll conducted on line through AARP the Magazine. The poll was entitled: “Would you hire a health advocate to help you manage your medical care?” The choices were:

• Yes I would love that.
• Yes, I have hired one before.
• No, I can’t afford one.
• No, a friend or family member helps me.
• No, I’m my own best advocate,

The interesting thing, at least to me, was that 42 percent felt they were their own best advocate, while less than 20 percent would consider utilizing an advocate.

Now, I’m all for making my own health care decisions and the main purpose of my monthly column “No Bones About It” is to help educate and empower people to make educated and informed health care decisions. I must say, however, that the idea of having the services of a health care advocate available if one should need it is becoming more and more popular as time goes by. Here’s why this may be happening. Ask yourself a few questions about your health care system as it is today:

• Am I comfortable in my knowledge of my health care provider(s) qualifications and abilities to treat me and/or my conditions?

• Do I have medically/health care knowledgeable family members to rely upon in case I need their input?

• If I need surgery, does my provider have the necessary skills and experience to fix my problem?

• Am I comfortable asking my provider(s) what his/her infections rates are if I need surgery, or am I afraid of angering him/her?

• Am I comfortable in my knowledge of the health care facility I will be utilizing if I am to be hospitalized (infection rates etc), and who looks out for my best interests while I am a patient?

• Am I sufficiently educated about my health insurance plan and its coverage/limitations?

• Is my provider “in network” or a “participating member” of my plan? What, if any, cost difference to me is there if the answer is “no”.

• Do I know how to research providers and facilities on line to get answers about infection rates, policy adherence, lawsuits, license status etc.?

• Do I really know what a health care advocate is/does?

The climate of health care is changing rapidly. People want and need to become educated and be more interactive with their health care. As I said before, “it’s a jungle out there” when it comes to health care. Each and every one of use has a responsibility to become more aware of our bodies and our health. Blind trust and loyalty in those who would care for you should be tempered with education and genuine concern for your health.

In a study conducted by Health Grades1, an institution that rates hospitals etc. and published in 2006, the conclusion was that “Medical errors remain a leading cause of death and injury in hospitals nationwide…” and that efforts to improve patient safety at those facilities studied was “ too slow and a cause for great alarm.”

Now, don’t panic. Hospitals all over the country are working diligently to make your hospital stay as safe and positive as possible, but if this information does nothing else, it should reinforce how absolutely critical it is to be fully aware of what happens to you and your health, with or without help from others. Having been on both sides of the hospital bed, I can appreciate the importance of education from both sides.

Those of us who are 50-plus are in the phase of life where health-related issues will crop up more frequently than at any earlier point in time. We’ll be utilizing the health care system more and more as we continue to age.

Not everyone can afford the services of a health care advocate, but if you’re going to be your own advocate, you must become as savvy and educated as you possibly can.

Learn to ask the tough questions, research, and…advocate.

http://www.healthgrades.com/media/dms/pdf/PatientSafetyInAmericanHospitalsStudy2006.pdf

Chisholm’s expertise in nursing, orthopedics and surgery spans more than 30 years. For more information on orthopedic-related topics, visit www.bone-and-joint-pain.com. Submit questions or comments to Ken at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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