26/02/2024
Ever left a medical appointment disheartened? Frustrated? Uneasy?
Our healthcare system is far from perfect. This is why it’s SO important to learn to be your best advocate.
These 5 questions can help make sure you’re getting the best care.
1. Informed consent is not just signing an intake form. It’s sharing the what, why, and how during throughout the process. Any assessments, tests, and evaluations you should have an understanding of before anything is done.
2. Did you feel heard and listened to? Are the reasons what brought you to the appointment being addressed?
3. Describing symptoms in the moment can be hard! Coming in with a journal of symptoms and some observations of patterns, triggers, and descriptions can be helpful when advocating for yourself. Also, bringing a trusted person to appointments can be a great way to have another pair of ears listening, taking notes, and asking questions.
4. Every provider has different variations and degrees of experience, interests, and training. Understanding their speciality and their scope of practice is important when finding a provider that aligns with your concerns/symptoms.
5. You are allowed to switch providers, get second opinions, and bring in other members of the team.
