Medicare
5 Steps to Safer Health Care
- Speak up if you have questions or concerns. It’s
important to ask questions and make sure you understand
the answers. Choose a doctor who you feel comfortable
talking to about your health and treatment. Take a
relative or friend with you if this will help you
ask questions and understand the answers.
- Keep a list of all the medicines you take Tell your
Doctor and Pharmacist about the medicine that you
take, Including over-the-counter medicines such as
aspirin, ibuprofen, and dietary supplements like vitamins
and herbs. Tell them about any drug allergies you
have. Ask your doctor and pharmacist about side effects
and what to avoid while taking the medicine. When
you get your medicine, read the label, including warnings.
Make sure it is what your doctor ordered, and you
know how to use it. If the medicine looks different
than you expected, ask the pharmacist about it.
- Make sure you get the results of any test or procedure.
Ask your doctor or nurse when and how you will get
the results of test or procedures. If you do not get
them when expected in person, on the phone, or in
the mail, don’t assume the results are fine. Call
your doctor and ask for them. Ask what the results
mean for your care.
- Talk to your doctor and other members of your health
care team about your options if you need hospital
care. If you have more than one hospital to choose
from, ask your doctor which one has the best care
and results for your condition. Hospitals do a good
job of treating a wide range of problems. However,
for some procedures (such as heart bypass surgery),
research shows results often are better at hospitals
doing a lot of these procedures. Also, before you
leave the hospital, be sire to ask about follow-up
care, and be sure you understand the instructions.
- Make sure you understand what will happen if you
need surgery.
Ask your doctor: Who will take charge of my care while
I’m in the hospital?
Ask your surgeon:
A. Exactly what will you be doing?
B. How long will it take?
C. How can I expect to feel during surgery?
Make sure you, your doctor and your surgeon all agree
on exactly what will be done during the operation.
Tell the surgeon anesthesiologist, and nurses if you
have allergies or have ever had a bad reaction to
anesthesia.
The Medicare Program
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