Be Your Own Health Advocate

Become active in your own health care. Good communication is crucial to good health care. Many of us have several different doctors and specialists at one time, and it is imperative that communication between all healthcare providers is accurate and efficient. Doctors and pharmacists need to hear your concerns for the best possible care. When people take an active role in their care, research shows they fare better -- in satisfaction and in how well treatments work. Passive patients are often not satisfied with their care and wish they had done more.

Do you have a health concern that could be helped if you were more active in your care? Take a look at some of the links below to learn more and gain the confidence you need to speak up!

Know your numbers!

A big part of your health routine should be visits to your doctor for regular wellness exams. During these exams, your doctor will most likely perform a few routine tests. When you receive your test results, it will be important for you to understand what those numbers mean to your health.

• Click here for the August 2010 edition of VitaMin newsletter (PDF)
• Click here to take this month's VitaQuiz

Helpful links

Be Your Own Health Advocate (PDF)