Advocacy Begins at Home

There is nothing more gratifying than doing as much as you can to take care of yourself. At the risk of sounding like an Internet junkie, research the disease or condition you interested in so that you are armed with facts and not scare tactics. In these days of managed care, it is increasingly the responsibility of the patient to be their own healthcare advocate. This begins with learning how to make informed decisions about your own treatment. The Internet has become the repository of both good and bad information on health and medical treatment. So beware. Researching it on Google, you will find the latest research and the accounts of other patients. Visit several of the sites – not only the two or three that pop up at the top of the list – in order to gain a perspective. University and research institutes will also have some useful perspectives on research and treatments, but so will medication-specific sites sponsored the pharmaceutical companies. Websites sponsored by organizations like the Arthritis Foundation and the American Cancer Society can also provide excellent information. But regardless of the sponsor of a site, read carefully and get multiple perspectives. When you are informed, you become an active participant in your medical care, using your time and your healthcare provider’s time more efficiently.