Be Intelligent
No one expects you to take a crash medical school course after being diagnosed with an illness. It’s not necessary that you understand anatomy and physiology or cell biology. It is important that you know how your own body works. What are the unique features of your body? What illnesses and injuries have you had? What medications are you allergic to? How do you respond to medication? It’s also important that you have at least a basic understanding of your diagnosis. You should know the actual diagnosis and all its particulars. If your specific disease has stages, phases or degrees, know where you are on the continuum. Do enough research so that you aren’t buried in information on your first doctor’s visit.

Be Curious
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it could save your life. Today’s healthcare culture is about increasing the numbers of patients seen by doctors while reducing the reimbursement schedules and insurers increasing malpractice insurance premiums. Curiosity allows you to feel prepared for your consults. It shows the doctor that you are part of the team and not simply a bystander or a victim. Curiosity may even get the doctor to think twice about a test, a diagnosis or a treatment. It tells the doctor that you’re not simply a tourist in this process, but you are truly the CEO of your own health. Curiosity also keeps the medical team connected to you even when you’re not present. They will think about questions or research answers about protocols and outcome studies so the next time you come in for a visit they are just as prepared as you.

Be Assertive
Western culture has created a power imbalance between the doctor and patient. It’s not uncommon for doctors to be put on pedestals, unfortunately that means many fall off. When meeting with your healthcare team make clear your expectations. If you feel a particular test needs to be done, don’t take a simple “no” based on the insurance company declining the request. It’s fine to ask the doctor or hospital to appeal the decision and requesting the doctor to provide additional information if necessary to make sure the test is authorized. If you have specific side effects that you don’t feel are being addressed make a firm request of your provider. Suffering should be eliminated at every possible juncture of your treatment process. This is no time to be a wallflower. Your presence is important, so make sure your voice, your concerns and your problems are addressed.

Becoming your own healthcare advocate provides you with a sense of ownership. It gives you the presence of mind to partner with your healthcare team. You’re empowered to ask questions at every step of the process. Your inner strength translates to improved immune function. We all need an advocate so either step up and take that role or team up with someone who has the experience in that position, but don’t be led down a path without having a voice.

Perhaps this is an extension of each individual and what they stand for. Cumulatively, the amount of goodwill that is put forth into our society is truly remarkable. So I ask you, what have you done for the common good and what cause have you taken upon yourself to promote. Will you advocate in 2008 for a nonprofit group or for an important cause? Perhaps you have been involved in nonprofit work all your life? Maybe it’s time you invited some friends to join with you in that common cause for your fellow man

There are some people that go through life only thinking about themselves never standing for a greater cause and it’s time that they advocate in 2008. If you are such a person, and believe me I’m not judging you, then I suggest that you volunteer for a nonprofit group and see what it’s all about and see what you have been missing. Helping others in their time of need makes you feel good about yourself and gives you a sense of purpose like no other.

So, go ahead and make a list locally of all the great organizations in your area and then choose do a little research to see which one will make the best fit for you.

Recently I had made a pledge to myself to write articles when I had the time for worthy causes. In doing so someone wrote me an email thanking me; the articles I wrote were simple and they were to help the awareness for Autism. So, I replied back to the gentleman with an Autistic Child;

“Well, I hope they are good enough (probably not but as I learn more they will get better you watch!), but either way it is a necessary thing to get people talking and keep up the awareness, we need not ditch our children because we fail to address such important issues. After all if the Mantra really is; “No Child Left Behind” well then lets figure out a way to live up to that standard and thus walk the talk. We may have to get creative to solve the problems operating within the current norm of society, school systems and
public perception, but with a little give all the way around this can happen.”

You see in writing these articles and doing a little more self-induced research on the Internet I have come to the conclusion that well; I know there is a solution to this Autism Issue, which is best for all concerned, I think writing articles makes sense and is one thing to do to stay on the right track; Awareness is a big key of course, but also low-cost simple duplicatable programs to take across the country. I know the father of the Autistic Child is thinking about his child, but let’s think bigger on this; Nationwide, World Wide, it could be a very good thing indeed. I would invite my fellow writers to each write one article this week for a worthy cause. So consider this in 2006.