Do You Have A Relationship With Your Doctor?

Who is on your medical team or do you even have a medical team? Working as a registered nurse I have had the opportunity to work all over the healthcare spectrum. I've worked in medical surgical, emergency medicine, intensive care units, oncology, currently as a nurse education, and even on the corner of "happy and  healthy" lol! One common thread that I notice in all the different healthcare areas are individuals who don't have a primary care physician or have even seen any doctor in a number of years for that matter. I have heard people say, "When I get sick I just go to the emergency room" which is totally an issue for the patient and a even bigger one for the pockets of the patient. I know there may be many reasons for this decision, like limited access to good healthcare, no insurance or underinsured, and one of the main reason may be not having full knowledge of the healthcare system.

I want to educate my readers on the importance of having a primary care physician and the benefits of why you should have a  personal relationship with them. The United States spends over a billion dollars on healthcare annually due to chronic illness and complications due to chronic illness. This money could be used for other things of course like our educational system or our underserved black communities.

Having a relationship with your doctor is just like having a relationship with your long distance family member. You should be able to communicate and talk to your doctor just the same if not more. Your physician is an important part of your life team. You have to check on your health the same way you service your car for regular maintenance. Having a relationship with your doctor is valuable because you want to have continuity of care and be able to catch any problems soon. I have a relationship with my doctor and I can call him when I have a problem and can tell him what's going on. It feels good to know that the doctor and the nurse knows me. This can make a huge difference if a problem arise.

Preventive medicine is one of the best strategies to stay healthy. I often educate my patients a lot about being proactive to disease and not reactive. Here are few tips to take in consideration when looking for a primary care doctor.

1. Choose the  type of doctor you feel comfortable with. If you feel more it ease talking to a women doctor then why would you choose a man doctor. You have to feel comfortable!
2. Choose a doctor that's willing to listen to you and creates a medical plan with you instead of for you. Make sure the physician understand your concerns and not do all the talking.
3. Choose a doctor that's an expert in the area you desire. If you are looking to try a more natural route then you need to look for a more holistic physician then a traditional physician.
4. Choose a physician affiliated with the hospital you prefer. If you have a doctor that's apart of a hospital you hate, then that make not work out so good if you have to be admitted in the hospital.
5. Choose a physician that will take time with you and explain things to you. Don't choose a physician that only spends a couple of minutes with you and none of your questions are answered.

If you are looking to find a physician in your area and that takes your insurance here are some resource:

www.1800doctors.com
www.webmed.com ( look at the physician directory)

If you don't have insurance or are underinsured here are some resources:

Aunt Martha's Clinic - www/auntmarthas.org
Cook County Hospitals - www.countycare.com
Access Community Health Network - www.accesscommunityhealth.net


These are just somethings to take in consideration. I will share so much more with you later today 9/7 on Periscope 6pm CT. Follow me Periscope at @p_williams1