EMPOWERING THE PATIENT IN CHOOSING TREATMENT OPTIONS

“I’m not a doctor!”

“How can I be expected to decide the best treatment option available?”

It’s less complicated than it may sound. All you need to do is ask two simple questions.

1. What is my diagnosis?

2. What is the CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM?

Most people walk out of a doctor’s office with only ONE CONCERN; “where can I get my prescription and pay less?” Most people do not pay attention to the diagnosis believing the prescription will “handle the problem.” If we want to reduce the costs of health care and get healthier in the process, each person MUST ask the two basic questions above. Here is why!

If you (as the patient) are going to be part of the “team” deciding the best course of action to addressing your health problem, you need to know what’s wrong (the diagnosis.) Secondly (and most importantly) you need to have the doctor explain (in simple terms) what is causing this condition in order to ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE and FIX THE PROBLEM so the body can return to a healthy state and self regulate itself.

You may be asking, “isn’t this what the prescription is for?” In almost all cases, the answer is

NO!

.

The prescription usually attempts to control a problem WITHOUT ever attempting to CORRECT IT. For example, cholesterol meds, diabetic meds, high blood pressure meds, headache meds, anti-inflammatory meds, etc… ALL address the symptoms without ever addressing the mechanism causing the problem. Most people never concern themselves with being part of the solution, because doctors are willing to take full responsibility for “stabilizing” the patient’s health conditions. People feel they already have enough on their own plate. If a doctor claims a prescription is necessary, it is easier to claim “doctors know best,” and swallow a pill than to commit precious time and effort to participating and finding REAL PERMANENT SOLUTIONS. It is easier for the doctor as well. They have (intelligently may I add)  “lowered the bar” on personal job performance to maintaining chronic disease rather than helping patients overcome these conditions and restoring the body to a NORMAL state of good health.

Would you hire a plummer that provides you a sealant to apply to your plumbing on a daily basis to prevent leaks? Would you rank this plummer as a competent professional maintaining the highest standards his or her profession provides? His/Her diagnosis; a leak, his/her “prescription,” a sealant used once a day to TEMPORARILY prevent leakage. Let’s superimpose this example on a doctor. His/Her diagnosis; high blood pressure; his/her “prescription” a pill used once a day to TEMPORARILY reduce blood pressure. Why are we unsatisfied with the plummer’s incompetent performance, yet perceive the doctor’s incompetent performance as valuable and satisfying our needs? Both professionals have provided very analogous solutions, yet neither one has addressed the ROOT CAUSE of the underlying problem. In both cases, there is a high probability that additional “symptoms” (problems) will surface since the original problem was never uncovered and corrected.

We, as patients, can no longer tolerate this subpar approach to evaluating and treating our health. Our lives and well being will continue to be compromised unless we are willing to challenge the current standards of care.

So, what is our part as patients in this process to help improve the current system? Simple; ask the two basic questions

1. What is my diagnosis?

2. What is the CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM?

AND get answers IN SIMPLE UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE so you clearly know the problem AND SOLUTION required to CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSE to FIXING THE CONDITION (not simply maintaining a reduced state of chronic ill health.)

Have you ever looked at your health and its management from this perspective?

Now, if I have successfully gained your attention and a new level of awareness, it’s time to identify one other obstacle in our way of improving your health. We have clearly shown a flaw in the current system of care and the new level of shared responsibility (with us) our physicians must NOW be willing to accept. Our final obstacle interfering with our physicians from providing higher qualities of service and achieving better results is:

YOU!

That’s right! If you are not willing to take responsibility for your lifestyle and participate in providing your body the tools necessary to achieving and maintaining good health, it really doesn’t matter how committed your physician is to performing his/her job at the highest level possible. From their perspective, if all you want is a pill that helps generate revenue to increase their salaries, they will continue to gladly provide this service. If you are truly unclear, however, about the steps you must take to satisfy your responsibilities in this process, you are more than welcomed to contact me directly.

There are many times in life we get stuck in patterns of behavior we don’t even realize. This article emphasizes one pattern that negatively affects countless lives throughout the world. The good news is, this article also identifies solutions that can improve the QUALITY OF LIFE, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE AND REDUCE IT’S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL COST.

ARE YOU WILLING TO ASK YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR SPECIALIST THE TWO QUESTIONS RECOMMENDED?

ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FULFILLING YOUR PART IN ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH?

 

 

Tags: alternatives, disease, doctor, health, health care, lifestyle, quality of life