Be a Partner in Your Healthcare
You can play an important role in your own healthcare. When you contact your healthcare provider, you can be prepared with information that will help the provider understand exactly what´s happening. When you are actually a patient in treatment, you can stay informed and be actively involved in decisions about the care you receive.
You can be a partner in your healthcare – we´ll show you how.
Talking with your provider before becoming a patient
(You can print this and save it as a reminder.)
Whether talking to your provider by phone or in the medical office, you should have the following information available:
- Your personal health record
- A list of your medication (a medication record form is available free from SJRMC)
- Your pharmacy and their telephone number
- Your current illnesses/diagnoses
Be ready to describe your situation:
I am having (circle those that apply):
pain (where is the pain felt?)
unexplained weight gain or loss
difficulty sleeping
vomiting
difficulty breathing
nausea
bleeding
wound changes
fall/trouble moving
trouble urinating
bowel troubles
weakness
fever or chills
other ______________________________
Be ready to provide some background:
I began to feel this way (when did it start?) ______________________ ________________________________________________________
My last weight _____________ blood sugar ____________________
Temperature____________ blood pressure/pulse ________________
What makes it better is ____________________________________
What makes it worse is ____________________________________
How long it lasts _________________________________________
It prevents me from doing my usual activities ___ yes ___ no
What I think is going on ____________________________________
Interacting with your provider when you are a patient
San Juan Regional Medical Center respects your rights, including your right to be involved in decisions about your care, treatment and services provided. We encourage you to participate in all decisions about your treatment, making your wishes known to your physician and caregivers. You are the central focus of the healthcare team. If you have questions or concerns, or if you don´t understand, ask again. Your healthcare team is here to listen and to help.
- Your healthcare is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don´t understand something that your doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional tells you.
- Tell your doctor or nurse if something doesn´t seem quite right.
- Expect healthcare workers to introduce themselves when they enter your room. If a healthcare worker is not readily identifiable, ask to see their identification. A new mother, for example, should not give her baby to anyone who does not have a color-coded identification badge.
- Interpreter service is provided free of charge to anyone who needs it.
- Hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of infections. You should expect that all healthcare workers wash their hands before and after caring for you.
