Tag: healthcare

Is Doctors Lying to Patients Ever OK?

apatientsplace-logo-v3

We all know the healthcare system is difficult at best and more likely just broken. A recent Medscape poll of 286 physicians and 362 RNs and APRNs reported that at least some physicians felt it was OK to lie to patients about a medical error (17%), prognosis (14%), and to get treatment (24%).

There’s more information about lying to patients in this report from Medscape.

While it’s understandable that any clinician might lie if they felt they were helping a patient, doesn’t that reinforce a dangerous presumption that doctors know better than patients what’s in the patient’s interest?

Two questions that need to be asked in future polls are “how do patients feel about doctors and nurses lying to them,” and “how will we activate patients to contribute to their care teams if we don’t trust them with the truth?”

11 Essential Tips for Consumers to Get High Quality Healthcare

apatientsplace-logo-v3

1. Be involved in all parts of your healthcare.

2. Ask questions whenever you are unsure of anything related to your healthcare.

3. Find out how much you will be expected to pay before appointments, tests, and treatments are started.

4. Request copies of your test results, doctor’s notes, and medical record when you check in for any appointment, test or treatment.

5. Always find out how much successful experience your health providers have at diagnosing and treating your specific condition.

6. Keep and organize copies of your medical records, test results, and interactions with all of your health providers.

7. Learn as much as you can about your illness and providers from trustworthy sources.

8. Contact your insurance provider as much as is needed to understand your coverage, your insurance provider’s guidelines, and your financial responsibilities.

9. Negotiate fees with doctors and treatment providers whenever possible.

10. Review your bills for mistakes, or have someone do it for you; its free.

11. Consult an experienced specialist after a serious diagnosis.

Get free help navigating your health insurance, appealing insurance denials, and accessing care through the Patient Advocate Foundation, or call 800-532-5274. Go to https://apatientsplace.com/help-guidance/ for hundreds of links to free help with your healthcare.

FDA approves 1st DTC consumer genetic test

Nologo-apatientsplave-v3-smallw, patients can purchase a genetic risk test to learn about their risks for various diseases. FDA approved 23andMe’s $199 genetic health risk test for sales directly to consumers. The tests are based on DNA extracted from the users saliva.  More information can be obtained at https://www.23andme.com.

 

10 Tips for Patients to Get Safe, Quality, and Affordable Healthcare

emoji-share-a-resource2

  • Be involved in all parts of your healthcare.
  • Ask questions whenever you are unsure of anything related to your healthcare.
  • Whenever possible, find out how much you will be expected to pay before appointments, tests, and treatments are started.
  • Request copies of your test results, doctor’s notes, and medical record when you check in for any appointment, test or treatment.
  • Always find out how much successful experience your health providers have at diagnosing and treating your specific condition.
  • Keep and organize copies of your medical records, test results, and interactions with all of your healthcare providers.
  • Learn as much as you can about your illness and providers from trustworthy sources.
  • Contact your insurance provider as much as needed to understand your coverage, your insurance provider’s guidelines, and your financial responsibilities.
  • Negotiate fees with doctors and treatment providers whenever possible.
  • Review your bills for mistakes.
  • Consult an experienced specialist after a serious diagnosis.