Medical Tips From the Inside...Things You Need To Know Book

Preface/Introduction     1
Patient's Bill of Rights, Advanced Directives, DNR     3
The Changing Healthcare Industry     9
Choosing Elements of Your Health Care     11
Choosing your medical coverage     11
Choosing your doctor     13
Preventing Medical Errors     15
What is a medical error?     15
How to avoid medical errors     15
What to Do If You Are Diagnosed With An Illness/Disease     19
Communication with Peers     21
Patient education     24
Major teaching hospitals/Treatment centers     24
Internet     36
Library/Bookstore     39
Support groups     40
Obtaining Your Medical Records     43
Types of records     44
How to request your records     45
What to do if a physician/facility is non-compliant     45
Importance of Participating in Your Healthcare     47
A good partnership with your doctor     47
Making educated and informed decisions     48
Understanding your decision and the consequences     49
What To Ask Your Doctor Before You Have Surgery     53
What surgery are you recommending?     53
Why?     54
Are there alternatives to the surgery?     54
What are the benefits of having this surgery?     55
What are the risks of this operation?     55
What will happen if i don't have the operation?     56
How about a second opinion?     56
What is your experience with this operation?     57
Where will I have this operation?     58
What kind of anesthesia will be used?     58
How long will it take me to recover?     60
What is the cost of the operation?     60
Caring for the Young     63
Choosing a Pediatrician     63
The Pharmacist and your child's medication     64
Women's Health Issues     67
Yearly gynecological screenings     67
Checking credentials of your mammography technician     68
'Abnormal' test results - options     69
Abnormal PAP smear results     70
Classifications and follow-up testing     73
Cervical cancer     75
Breast cancer     80
Mammograms     80
Abnormal mammograms     82
Needle biopsies     82
Management of biopsy results      83
Ultrasound     84
Prostate Cancer     87
Herbal Medicine     91
Benefits     91
Prescription medication interaction     91
Caring for the Elderly     95
Choosing a doctor     95
Considering surgery?     97
Assisted living v. nursing home     98
Residents' Rights     100
The Ombudsman Program     102
Protecting the rights of the elderly     103
Medical Tourism     105
Reliable Medical Care for the International Traveler     107
Comparing Healthcare in the United State and Europe     111
A Sampling of Healthcare Around the World:
Australia     113
Canada     114
France     115
Germany     117
India     118
Italy     119
Japan     120
United Kingdom     122
Summary     131
References     133