PATIENT EDUCATION

It is more and more common for patients to accept responsibility for much of their own care. Frequently it is mandated by the insurance company or the health plan that is providing the health care.

There can be many advantages for the patient when they take an active role in their personal health care. One of the most obvious involves the overall expense allotted to the individual's care. Assisting in your own care can frequently offset some out of pocket expenses that affect both the payers and the individual's total expense for therapy.

There are actually many other good reasons for a patient to accept and participate in their own health care that have nothing to do with cost. Convenience may be the number one reason for learning some of the skills needed in assisting in their own care. An independent patient can administer their own medications or nutritional supplements without waiting for help from a family member or a skilled clinician. It is far more comfortable for a patient to be able to select the best time for a dose of pain medication or be able to initiate or stop a nutritional supplement as needed. Sometimes the therapies must be kept on a set schedule and an independent patient may be traveling, visiting friends or out at a sporting event and not need to return home to meet a skilled clinician to assist them.

Aside from all of the obvious advantages, it is better for your health to be knowledgeable and aware of your body's needs your therapies requirements, your medication’s risk and side effects and the procedures that your healthcare clinicians will be helping you to receive.