Health Care Stories

Even at a Leading Medical Center

I met Cindy at a talk I was giving. She told me her story and gave me permission to share it with you.

Cindy and her husband adopted a baby girl 11 years ago. Their daughter had contracted Hepatitis C from her birth mother. Over the years Cindy has taken her daughter to see numerous specialists and has been vigilant about health care issues. She believes they have received the best health care possible.

But the major medical center where they had their daughter's first liver biopsy done has lost the test. This isn't just any medical center. This is a leading medical center that is well known in the U.S. They cannot find the liver biopsy. There is no record of the test. There is no explanation. It's gone. There is no way to retrieve this test. This baseline liver biopsy is important. Cindy has moved on and they have had two other liver biopsies since. But she will never again trust the medical centers to keep records that are important to her. She asks for a copy and is keeping her own records. She bought my book, Health Care Your Way and the My Health Care Records binder the day she heard me speak. She was thrilled to find a system that would help her keep track of these important health events in her daughter's life.

If you have someone you care about who has health issues, buy the book. Start a health record to Keep track of important information. The book is available on Amazon.com or here on this website under products. You and those you care about deserve the best care and your involvement will lead to better care. This is a well documented fact and all health care providers know it to be true. Now it's time for the consumers to understand and to take action. Don't wait another day, get involved for yourself or someone you love.

Pitfalls of being a "good patient"

This story was submitted by a reader of Health Care Your Way.

I look out for my 84 year old father who lives about an hour away. I call and visit him almost weekly. During one Monday phone call he said he was sad because he woke up without hearing in his left ear. He was sad because he has limited hearing anyway and uses hearing aids. He went on to say that he called "The Clinic" and was directed to an ENT (makes sense) who would see him in a week. I asked more questions then realized he had been using a chain saw the day earlier, without using ear protection. I talked and asked questions and told him he needed to be seen promptly about the hearing loss. He should NOT wait a week for a visit. He had to think about that awhile. I urged him to go to Urgent Care as soon as possible. He went and was seen by a very competent P.A. who told him that it was good to come in promptly because sudden hearing loss must be treated quickly to have a chance on regaining the hearing. He was placed on a steroid drug for a week or so and then had his appt. with an ENT. The final outcome was about 10 days into the steroids he had his hearing back. He was thrilled. I was thrilled.

Unfortunately the receptionist he spoke to initially was not up to speed on the needs of an elderly person scrambling through the system. My Dad probably did not push for an appointment either. I can imagine he was trying to be a “good patient.” That could well have caused him to have permanent hearing loss. I cannot be there for every issue for my Dad, but just communicating with him on a regular basis and asking questions makes a huge difference.

chartyourownhealth.com

Even at a Leading Medical Center

Pitfalls of being a "good patient"

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