Audio Version of this Article:
Since I am retiring my patients are transitioning to new providers and I have many new women receiving this newsletter so I thought it would be a good idea to discuss how you can optimize your healthcare visits. I am not at all happy with the current state of healthcare – which is mostly overwhelmed and underperforming. When I left my traditional OB/GYN practice in 2005 to start the Midlife Wellness Center I was not happy with healthcare even then! I wanted to create a collaborative practice that was better for my patients. I wanted the patient and provider to act as a team, I wanted to allow plenty of access to me for clarification and questions and I wanted the freedom to individualize my patients care instead of following the standard “cookie cutter” protocols. Back then leaving the “system” and creating this type of practice was revolutionary. Since then many others have joined me in this approach but in 2024 I am still shocked to find this type of care is relatively rare. I also know that this type of care is more expensive and not accessible to everyone – so in this newsletter I want to outline some basic principals that will elevate any healthcare experience you have whether alternative or traditional.
HEALTH YOURSELF ACTIONS:
- First and foremost – you will always be the best expert on yourself and the most important source of information concerning your health – CAREFULLY FILL OUT YOUR PAPERWORK, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND UPDATE YOUR PROVIDER AT YOUR VISITS. I think a thorough health history is the most important but most UNDERUTILIZED thing in healthcare today. Over the years I have solved so many long term problems for my patients by just taking the time to get an accurate timeline and history from them. It is very important that you take the time to thoughtfully answer and fill out your health history especially if it is a traditional visit where actual time with the provider will be short. My patients filled out a 9 page questionnaire before their first visit – then we spent time going over all of it together. I was often amazed that the woman sitting in front of me, that had been suffering for years and had waited months for her appointment, had rushed through the paperwork and left out many extremely important details. To receive the best care it’s imperative that you spend time filling out the paperwork and even add additional information if you feel it is pertinent but wasn’t asked on the paperwork. Then on any return visit it is important that you update the provider with accurate information.
- Bring any important labs, records or tests TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. I know it’s tempting to just show up empty handed and sign a form so that the provider can request any important or new health information. The problem is trying to request health information is a very time consuming process for the provider and it often takes multiple requests to get the information days to weeks later. When the records do finally arrive they are usually just put in your chart – if there were questions or discussions that needed to be had about the records/reports you are no longer in front of the provider and this needed information is oftentimes never obtained. At my patients first appointment they received a notebook and were instructed to keep health records in it. I always made sure copies of labs/tests/annual letters were sent to my patients and I taught them to ask for their records from all other providers. I know it seems archaic to have paper copies – the current problem with electronic records is that they are fragmented with each provider having different portals that are not collated together for all to see. Keeping your own records all together so that it is quick and easy to access them is the best option at this time. I can tell you from personal experience (I have health notebooks for myself and my family) that it is almost impossible to maintain clarity and accuracy concerning your health history without this type of record keeping. I always review the notebooks before appointments and I can tell you many times I would have forgotten important details without the reminder in my notebooks (and you would think as a doctor I would remember every detail about my health and my children’s health but I don’t). Take your records to any appointment especially first appointments with a new provider. This allows them to make copies of anything they want and to discuss with you any concerning health history. Taking your notebook also reminds you to ask for copies of any new health records that provider gives you. You can then immediately place those records in your notebook – keeping it up to date.
- Take medications and supplements TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. What you invite into your body is very important information. Of course I want to know about nutrition but an accurate account of medications and supplements is just as important. I have always had my patients do this when they come to see me and I must say it has been invaluable. SO many times patients did not know the correct name or dosage of their medications or even forgot to list a medication on their paperwork. Bringing in the bottles of what they were currently taking improved accuracy.
Supplements are like food – there are many options and some are much better than others. On the container there is important information that allows a provider ( if they are well versed in supplements) to determine if it is a quality supplement. In a future newsletter I plan to go through helpful tips that will improve your supplement IQ and help you find quality supplements. I am going to add a DISCLAIMER here – taking your supplements to an appointment is not always greeted with interest or enthusiasm. To me this is a sign the provider is not educated concerning supplements and the benefits they can provide. If you find this to be the case – it is a sign you will need to find a supplement savvy provider or get better educated on supplements yourself.
- COME TO THE APPOINTMENT PREPARED with questions and what you want to accomplish at the appointment. This is especially important when the appointments are short and keeping them focused is vital. I actually have never minded “Dr Google” at all. I love it when patients are involved in their healthcare and have done research and have questions. I recommend bringing in a list and recording the answers (on paper or a voice recording). For all of us it’s easy to forget the specifics of what was discussed when we try later to recall it. Patients getting confused after an appointment and therefore not following through with actions is one of the biggest obstacles I see to women moving forward with their health.
- KNOW YOUR INSURANCE – KNOW WHAT IS COVERED AND WHAT IS NOT COVERED. As a healthcare consumer myself I know how painfully convoluted insurance can be so I know this is a heavy ask but it is well worth it in the long term. When I get new insurance I spend the time to research and understand my coverage. If you have the benefit of a HR department to help you understand your insurance take advantage of their expertise. I think for the vast majority of us our insurance is for SICK CARE not healthcare. So it is like your home insurance – it will not cover most maintenance. Your insurance is also not going to cover “out of the box”, individualized solutions it only covers “standard of care” which is woefully lacking. So moral of the story is to know what benefits you get with your insurance and take full advantage of them. Use health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and prescription discounts such as GoodRX whenever you can to get the most for your money. Then if you can afford it plan on upgrading your care by seeking out and utilizing providers that offer additional innovative services. This type of service is getting more common along with self help options such as online programs/protocols that help consumers take more control of their health. I am excited for this trend to expand.
BOTTOM LINE – THE BEST HEALTHCARE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR PROVIDER. CHOOSE YOUR PROVIDER CAREFULLY (DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE 5 THINGS I HAVE MENTIONED). THEN REALIZE YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TEAM -FOR THE BEST RESULTS YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED, INVESTED AND ORGANIZED WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH VISITS.
LASTLY, SOME HOUSEKEEPING
After my last newsletter which discussed the importance of avoiding toxins I received clean beauty recipes from several patients so I thought I would share one of them.
FACE SERUM
2 tbls. Jojoba oil
1 ½ tbls. Rosehip oil
¼ tsp. vit E oil
2 drops of each essential oil: frankincense, helichrysum, myrrh, geranium
Place all ingredients in a glass dropper bottle. Seal and gently shake to combine oils. Use ¼ – ½ of a dropper to face at night after cleansing.
In a previous newsletter I touted the benefits of a new collagen powder – Vital Proteins Professional Skin Hydration and Antioxidant Support – developed in collaboration with Dr Jeff Bland (the founder of functional medicine). This collagen powder has lots of research backing it’s effectiveness and I got lots of feedback from women saying they loved how it helped their skin. Well it was so popular nationwide that it went on backorder and was hard to find. I am glad to say it’s back at Wholescripts.
