Being a Better Patient

The ways you receive healthcare are changing. Focus your strategies for wellness and strengthen your relationship with your primary care doctor to boost your overall health.

1. Communicate early and often. If you have a question or concern, bring it up sooner rather than later. Sending a short note or leaving a voicemail for your doctor's nurse about a potential problem can allow your doctor to decide if you need a different medication, a follow-up visit or a referral.
2. Find tools to help you along the way. From wearable fitness trackers to smartphone apps, you can measure how you're doing each day. Many app developers offer free pedometers you can download to your phone. You can also use apps to measure the quality of your sleep (such as the Sleep Cycle alarm clock) or how many calories you've eaten (such as MyFitnessPal). The White Noise Lite app lets you customize white noise sounds that will help you drift off to dreamland. Too busy to count calories? Download the Meal Snap app that calculates calories based on a picture of your food.
3. Get connected. A simple tweet, photo or status update could help keep you on track regarding diet and exercise. People can cheer you on, "like" your status or share tips to help you stay motivated. You can also follow your favorite health magazines and social media personalities for daily health and wellness tips.

Are you heading to the doctor's office? Be sure to have the following information handy, so your visit is more productive.

• Current medications. This includes prescription and over-the-counter products, such as vitamins, herbal supplements, and allergy and cold medications.
• Current conditions or allergies. Update your doctor at the beginning of your appointment if you've noticed any changes in your health.
• Current health insurance information. Keep your health insurance card in a safe place. When you receive a new insurance card, take it by your doctor's office so they can update your information.
• Questions and concerns. Jotting down your thoughts beforehand — and during the appointment — can help you communicate more effectively. Don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions for clarification before you leave.

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