Boomer and the Babe - Patient Advocacy

  The single most important thing to remember when faced with a health crisis is that you need to be an active part of your healthcare team. Your healthcare decisions need to be made with you not for you! You can do this by education yourself about your illness and your treatment options. When you are an active member of your healthcare team, your results will improve. One excellent site to begin to understand the illness you have is www.nih.gov (National Institute of Health). That site will also link to others equally helpful. Remember that no one treatment is right for everyone. We are all different with unique needs, belief structures, cultures and spiritual values. Curiosity can save your life! Use the same spirit of inquiry to seek out medical care that you use to shop for a car or a vacuum! Investigate, ask questions. Always seek a second opinion. Any qualified professional will welcome your researching. You are very important to many people. Do your research carefully and choose wisely. Remember that every human being is fallible, including healthcare providers. Do a background search on the hospital as well as the physicians you choose.