The single most important thing to remember when faced with a health crisis is that you need to be an active part of your health care team.  You need to educate yourself about your illness and your treatment options.  Your health care decisions need to be made with you not for you. When you are an active member of your team, your results will improve.

Do you shop carefully for your automobile, or major appliances?  Why not apply that same spirit of inquiry for value when considering choices in your health care providers and hospitals as well as in selection of means of treatment. Any qualified professional will welcome your researching. No one means of treatment is always right for everyone in all situations. We are all different, with unique needs, spiritual values and belief structures. You are very important to a lot of people. Do your research carefully and then choose wisely. Remember that every human being is by nature fallible, including health care providers. It is possible to research not only the hospital you may choose but also the physicians to treat you. Your state's Board of Medicine/Medical Examiners will have information on every doctor practicing in your state.  www.HealthGrades.com is an independent site where you can get information about your hospital choices as well.  If possible, choose a hospital that specializes in treatment of your particular condition.

When facing major illness or surgery, always get a second opinion.  Any highly qualified professional will support your right to do so.

Whenever possible, have someone at your side at all times during hospitalizations.  They can ask questions and help you get the care you need.  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, a federal regulatory body, recommends that everyone  entering a hospital have an advocate with them.

Watch for the simple things:  all health care workers must wash hands prior to all treatments.  Stethoscopes should be cleaned in between patients.  Nurses should be able to answer questions about the medications they dispense.

It is your right to refuse treatment until such time as you understand what is happening.  Ask your doctor about your treatment plan:  what is involved, what outcome can you expect, what medications are necessary.

Ask your pharmacist about your medications and if there are potential interactions.  A very helpful site is www.rxlist.com to discover all you should know about the drugs you are putting into your body.  There is a lot of question at the present time about the safety and efficacy of many prescription drugs:  be safe - educate yourself.

Ask your doctor to clearly mark the site of your upcoming surgery - with indelible marker.  That way there can be no mistake while you are unconscious.

Ask every question more than once; as many times as it takes to understand. When you are under stress, your absorption of information is reduced. When you visit a health professional, take along someone to listen along with you and ask other questions. Take notes. Doctors and other professionals will be happy to give you statistics or, perhaps, copies of articles to further enlighten you. The better educated you are, the better your choices, and, consequently, the more relaxed you can be. A confident and more relaxed patient has fewer bad side effects and heals more rapidly.

An independent RN Patient Advocate will stand by you, advocate and care for you no matter what your personal choices are. We recognize the strong connection between belief and outcomes. We will not impose our personal beliefs on you or your loved one, but will encourage you to follow your own. An RN Patient Advocate will guide and educate, but not decide on your choices.

We wish you the best of health and outcomes and will assist you in any way we can in your exploration of possible treatments or practitioners.