The Care Company

empowered caregiving™

Acting on behalf of a consumer of healthcare services (your loved one), you play a key role in the delivery of healthcare services.  Decisions you make about your loved one’s life and care will affect their overall health. Being a smart healthcare consumer will have a significant impact on the quality of care and services your loved one receives and could lower the cost of these services.

Here are some important tips in becoming a smart healthcare consumer:

• Practice or encourage your loved one to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy diet, remaining active, avoiding smoking, drinking, or illicit drug use.
• Create a healthcare notebook. The Care Company has done this for you. The Empowered Caregiving Organizer is available on The Care Company site in the store and will save you hours of time and energy. Take the organizer with you for each doctor’s appointment and admission to the hospital. Update your organizer as changes occur. Provide this updated information to each of your loved one’s physicians during each visit.
  • 3 copies of the list of medical and surgical history.
  • 3 copies of the list of current medical doctors caring for your loved one.
  • 3 copies of the list of current medications and dosages, including prescriptions from other doctors, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and other supplements.
  • Insurance cards – Medicare and Supplemental health insurance.
  • List of allergies to medications.
  • Copies of lab results and x-ray reports.
  • Copy of advanced medical directive, living will and/or healthcare power of attorney documents.

• Choose physicians and health care providers with great care.  Get a personal reference from a friend or family member.
• Research your doctor’s license and credentials. Find out if there has ever been any disciplinary action taken against your doctor at http://www.fsmb.org/m_fpdc.html.
• Find out if the doctor recommended for a specific specialty is board certified in that specialty. You can get this information at 1-866-375-2267 or www.abms.org.
• Communicate openly with the doctor and actively participate in the decision making.
• Ask questions. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. Take notes.
• Closely monitor and manage chronic medical conditions to improve health and create a more balanced lifestyle.
• Follow the doctor’s instructions. You can’t expect your treatment to be successful if you don’t take prescribed medications and follow your doctor’s advice.
• If the doctor recommends a procedure or surgery, ask your doctor these questions:
  • What is the name of the procedure and what will be done?
  • What is the reason for the procedure?
  • What and when can a benefit be expected from this procedure?
  • What are the chances there will be no benefit from the procedure?
  • Are there any other alternative treatments?
  • What are the side effects or complications?
  • Does insurance cover the cost of the procedure/surgery?

• Do your own research with reliable sources of information. The internet is the easiest way to get lots of information, but be careful. Information on the internet can be outdated and biased (especially if they are trying to sell you something).
• Get a second opinion. If you or your loved one are presented with a treatment, surgery or medication options that are high risk or you strongly disagree with, seek a second opinion with a specialist in that medical specialty.
• Be proactive with health related issues. Most medical conditions can be treated more successfully if caught early.
• Schedule regular exams with the primary care doctor and discuss what screenings and immunizations are appropriate to the age, gender, and health history of your loved one.
• Support and encourage preventative healthcare practices for your loved one.
  • Get the flu vaccine annually
  • Get the pneumonia vaccine as recommended by physician
  • Wash hands frequently to prevent spread of germs or infections
  • Encourage good personal hygiene

• Understand the health insurance coverage. It is a PPO or HMO? What are the deductibles? What is the total out-of-pocket expense?
• Use in-network doctors, providers and facilities. Ask when making an appointment, ask if your loved one’s insurance is accepted.
• If the doctor prescribes a medication or service that is not covered by the health insurance, ask for alternative medication or service that is covered.
• Don’t be afraid to question your doctor’s recommendations. You and your loved one have to live with the decision. The doctor needs to be a part of your TEAM.
• Review your loved one’s Medicare supplement plan annually during open enrollment (usually in November-December).  If they participate in Medicare Part D to get their prescriptions, there may be a plan that will cost less based on the medications they are taking. Since medications may change throughout the year, better coverage may be available with a different plan. Do the necessary research. Make a phone call and ask.
• Save money on prescriptions if generic medications are available or by using a mail-order pharmacy. The doctor will write on the prescription if generic substitutions are appropriate.
• Know the names, purpose and side effects of the medications your loved one is taking. Write this information on your list of medications. (See The Empowered Caregiving Manual.)
• Make sure your loved one takes the prescribed medications as directed by the doctor.
• Throw away unused, out-of-date medication.
• Review the Medicare and supplemental insurance explanation of benefits (EOBs) for accuracy.  Billing mistakes can be made and you may overpay out of your pocket or your benefit dollars may be overused.

Becoming a smart healthcare consumer means being involved, staying informed, exploring options and taking responsibility for good health. Learn how to use health care services helps to maximize your benefits and reduce medical expenses. Make the effort to educate yourself about medical diagnosis, medical tests, and treatment plan and actively participate in decisions about treatment.