How adults can take active
roles in their health care
Adults play a significant role
in their own health care.
Adults focused on getting
fit may visit various fitness
facilities before signing up for a
membership, and individuals who
want to improve their diets may
spend countless hours poring over
healthy recipes and the latest trends
in nutrition. Such research pays
dividends, and the same commitment
can be applied to choosing the
right health care services.
Adults who are enrolled in employer
sponsored health insurance plans
may feel as though their options are
limited in regard to their health
care services. However, there are
many ways for patients to get more
out of their health care plans.
Shop around for a primary
care physician
It’s easy to be overwhelmed when
perusing lists of in-network primary
care physicians provided by
insurance companies. Such lists
can seem endless and it can be hard
to distinguish one physician from
another.
Adults in need of new primary
care physicians can ask neighbors
or family and friends who live
nearby for recommendations. It’s
important to put the time in when
choosing a primary care physician,
as people who are comfortable with
their physicians are more likely
to schedule annual wellness visits
or book appointments when they
aren’t feeling well. Such visits can
be life-saving.
Schedule annual wellness
visits
Annual wellness visits are very
important, even for health-conscious
individuals who are not
experiencing any signs of illness
or injury. Regular checkups and
screenings can uncover health problems
even when no symptoms are
present,potentially saving patients’
lives. For example, Hackensack
Meridian Health reports that mammograms
have reduced breast cancer
mortality in the United States by
40 percent since 1990. Many insurance
providers cover annual physicals
at no cost to the patient, and
Caribbean L 28 ife, JANUARY 8-14, 2021
There are many ways for patients to get more out of their health care plans. Metro Creative Connection
screenings can catch diseases early
when they’re at their most treatable
and treatment is less expensive and
less time-consuming.
Be a prepared patient
Prepare a list of questions prior to
a scheduled doctor’s appointment.
Jot questions down as they come to
you in the weeks leading up to the
appointment and don’t hesitate to
ask questions during the visit.
Be open and honest with
your physician.
Concealing behaviors from your
physician will negate some of the
benefits of visiting the doctor. For
example, if you live a largely sedentary
lifestyle but tell your doctor
you’re physically active, he or she
won’t offer advice on how to make
exercise a bigger part of your life.
Being open and honest with a physician
enables the doctor to give the
best medical advice.
Taking an active role in their
health care is a great way for adults
to improve their overall health and
can help them reduce their risk for
illness.
— Metro Creative Connection
Health