Episode 142: The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Navigating Healthcare

Send us Fan MailIs the American healthcare system truly broken—or has it simply become too complex for patients and physicians to navigate? In this episode, Sandy Kibling talks with Dr. Terry Adirim, a board-certified pediatric emergency physician, physician executive, healthcare advisor, and author of The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Surviving the Healthcare System. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Adirim explains why patients face long waits, rushed appointments, confusing insurance rules, denied care, and mounting costs.You’ll learn how to prepare for medical appointments, find the right provider, understand the difference between an explanation of benefits and an actual bill, and advocate for yourself when a claim or charge doesn’t look right. Dr. Adirim also discusses the growth of concierge and direct-pay medicine, the pressures facing physicians, and why technology alone cannot repair the healthcare system. Her message is reassuring and direct: It’s not you—it’s the system. But becoming an informed and prepared patient can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family.3 Key Takeaways:Preparation changes the patient experience. Decide what you need from an appointment, write down your questions, and bring an advocate when you’re receiving complicated or difficult information.Learn the language of health insurance. Understanding premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, networks, bills, and explanations of benefits helps you compare plans and avoid costly misunderstandings.You have the right to ask questions and challenge decisions. Request itemized bills, question incorrect charges, appeal denied claims, and speak up when you believe your care is urgent.Resources:Dr. Terry Adirim - WebsiteThe Prepared Patient - BookPlaybook AI PartnersPlaybook AI Partners - PodcastJoin Us September 23rd 2026 for  - "AI, That’s Not What I Meant!" - Free WebinarWant to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare#podmatchSupport the show