The Empowered Patient: How to Track Medical Tests and Procedures

Patient advocacy includes keeping track of your medical procedures and tests that help in your diagnosis and treatment. You will want to make a list of all tests that have been scheduled, completed, and still need to be scheduled. Make sure your list includes enough information so someone reviewing it will have a clear understanding of the reason for each test, the date of the test, the results, the date the results were received, the implications of the results, and the diagnosis or prognosis. Once all test results are in, your doctor will make recommendations for your treatment.

Ask your doctor if there are alternative tests that could be considered, and why the particular tests were chosen over others. It may be that there are tests that would be useful in your case, but they are not available at the lab or the hospital in your area. In that case, check with your doctor to see if he or she would recommend going to a different area to obtain those tests.

There may be further tests that are scheduled in order to help diagnose your disease or condition, so that a treatment plan can be developed for you. Ask whom you should call to get the test scheduled; the location of the lab or hospital; how to prepare for the test; when the results will be ready; whom to call to get the results of your test; and the date of your next doctor's appointment.

It is important to remember that some tests require special preparation. Some tests require you to have fasted for a certain number of hours, or to have not had anything to drink. You may even be required to have a fasting blood test, then another blood test one some hours later after a meal. Sometimes the directions for the test are not clear, and it is a good idea to check ahead of time with your doctor or the lab.

In some cases, after all tests and procedures have been performed, you may want to see if a clinical trial would be appropriate for you. Ask your doctor to research for a clinical trial for your condition. Even if it is only available out of your geographic area, you may be willing to relocate temporarily for treatment.

Always check before all procedures and tests to be sure of your insurance coverage and to see if you need pre-approval. When you call your insurance company, write down the date, whom you talked to, and what was said. Record the number of the person you called, including their direct line or extension. You may have been transferred several times during the call and it can be very difficult to get back to the same person if you need to.

When you have a complete record of the results of tests, and which medical tests remain to be done, you will be able to discuss your treatment options with your doctor and feel more in control of your care.

Article Source: http://www.rightbiz.com

SmallTown Duo, owned by Sibyl Day and Mary Benson, specializes in medical and legal books for consumers. They publish a popular book called "What Did the Doctor Say? A Guide for Leaving the Hospital." The book covers topics such as questions to ask about your diagnosis, how to avoiding common medication errors, how to track your medical tests and procedures. For more information, visit their website. www.SmallTownDuo.com

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