Working with Health Care Providers
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Finding a Primary Care Provider Thinking Aboout Practical Concerns Important Considerations in Choosing a Provider |
This information sheet offers suggestions that can help you in your search for a physician, naturopath or other type of health care provider. It also provides tips for building a more effective relationship with your provider.
A primary goal of the Hanford Health Information Network is to increase the number of health care providers who are knowledgeable about Hanford and radiation health effects and who are empathetic towards those who were or may have been exposed. The Network offers a self-study guide for health care professionals.
Finding a provider who is right for you is an important decision. The following tips can help you in this process. Also see HHIN's
Initially, it's important to find a primary care provider who can coordinate your care. Your needs will be best served by one provider who is aware of your health history, medications, and past treatment, including what has worked and what has not. Primary care providers can also help you keep down medical costs by recommending appropriate specialists only. Primary care providers are often called general practitioners (GPs) and can be either a physician, osteopath, naturopath, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. Physicians and osteopaths who are considered primary care providers usually specialize in family medicine or internal medicine.
To find a primary care provider, start by asking friends and family. Tell them about the type of provider you are looking for and the particular things that are important to you, such as someone who is knowledgeable about downwinder concerns.
After tapping your own network, you may wish to call on some of the following resources to help you find the type of provider you want who is in your area.
Physician
Call your state Academy of Family Physicians for a list of licensed family physicians. The American Academy of Family Physicians (1-800-274-2237) can provide the phone number of the state organization. Or check with your state or county medical society.
Osteopathic Physician
Call your state or county osteopathic association. The American Osteopathic Association (1-800-621-1773) publishes a national directory of osteopathic physicians and specialists. The American Academy of Osteopathy (317-879-1881) can refer you to osteopathic physicians in your state.
Nurse Practitioner
Call the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (512-442-4262) for a referral in your state.
Naturopath
Contact the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians to request a national referral directory and a brochure about naturopathic medicine. Order by sending $5.00 to AANP, 601 Valley Street, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98109.
Chiropractor
Call your state chiropractic association. Or contact the American Chiropractic Association (1-800-986-4636) for a list of chiropractors in your area.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN CHOOSING A PROVIDER
It's important to know that the provider you have selected is competent, convenient and affordable. It is equally important that you be able to establish a good working relationship with him/her. To determine whether a provider is right for you, listen carefully to how the provider responds when you discuss your health concerns. Consider the following:
Once you have a health care provider with whom you feel comfortable, it's important that you be able to communicate effectively with him/her.
Be prepared and ask questions
Write down your questions and a list of your symptoms before you get to the office. During the visit or right after, write down the answers so you can remember what was said. If you don't understand something, ask your provider to explain it to you. If you are unhappy about a particular treatment or diagnosis, tell your provider about your concerns.
You can take a spouse, partner, friend or relative with you into the examining room. Sometimes another person can help you remember what to ask and what the provider told you.
Help your provider help you
Bring your past medical records with you to your first appointment or let the provider know where he/she can obtain them.
Keep in mind that you don't need to continue with a provider with whom you cannot develop a good relationship or whose judgment you question.
You can also help your provider by bringing information about Hanford's radioactive releases to his or her attention. You can take with you to your appointment HHIN's Health Bulletin.
Don't be afraid to ask your provider to explain why he/she is ordering specific tests and how much they cost. Encourage your provider to involve you in making decisions about the tests that are ordered as well as any treatments he/she prescribes.
Use the phone effectively
Make sure you know what you want to say before you call. This will help keep your phone call short and to the point. If the health care provider is with a patient, you may ask to speak with a nurse. Often the nurse can handle routine calls. He/she can give the information to your provider and call you back with a response. For example, a refill for a medication can be called in to the pharmacy by a nurse.
If you feel that you still would like to speak directly to your provider, say so. Give the nurse a number where you can be reached after hours. Providers will often make an effort to reach a patient at home if they are unable to call you during office hours. (There may be a charge for a telephone consultation.) Be aware that you may be asked to schedule an appointment if your needs cannot be met over the phone.
Be your own advocate
Educate yourself about your condition or medical problem. Often there are many things you can do on your own to manage a chronic illness.
Libraries can also be quite helpful. Depending on where you live you might be able to use a university library or hospital library. They will often have better resources on medical issues than a public library.
Discuss what you have learned with your health care provider and work with him/her to develop a treatment plan that will work best for you. Remember, if you have doubts about your diagnosis or recommended treatment, you can always seek a second or third opinion.
RELATED MATERIALS
Complementary Medicine: An Introduction to the Health and Disease Approaches of Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tribal Healing - Provides a basic understanding of five health care approaches that may be considered complementary or alternative to conventional medicine practiced by medical doctors (MDs) in the United States.
