© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Fifteen Becoming an Informed Healthcare Consumer

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Acquiring Health Information Family and friends Family and friends Advertisement and commercials Advertisement and commercials Labels/detailed directions Labels/detailed directions Testimonials Testimonials Mass media Mass media Health practitioners Health practitioners On-line computer services On-line computer services

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Acquiring Health Information (cont’d) Health reference publications Health reference publications Reference libraries Reference libraries Consumer advocacy groups Consumer advocacy groups Folklore Folklore Voluntary health agencies Voluntary health agencies Government agencies Government agencies Qualified health educators Qualified health educators

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Why People Consult Health Practitioners Diagnosis of a health problem Diagnosis of a health problem Treatment of a health problem Treatment of a health problem Screening for potential problems Screening for potential problems Consultation of a health concern Consultation of a health concern Prevention of disease process Prevention of disease process

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Types of Health Practitioners Physicians (M.D., D.O.) Physicians (M.D., D.O.) Chiropractic (D.C.) Chiropractic (D.C.) Acupuncture Acupuncture Reflexology Reflexology Homeopathy Homeopathy Naturopathy Naturopathy Herbalism Herbalism Ayurveda Ayurveda

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Restricted Healthcare Providers Dentists (D.D.S.) Dentists (D.D.S.) Psychologists (Ph.D., Ed.D.) Psychologists (Ph.D., Ed.D.) Podiatrists (D.P.M.) Podiatrists (D.P.M.) Optometrists (O.D.) Optometrists (O.D.) Opticians (technicians) Opticians (technicians) Nurses (R.N., L.P.N.) Nurses (R.N., L.P.N.) Allied Health Care Professionals Allied Health Care Professionals

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Self Care People are becoming more responsible of their own health People are becoming more responsible of their own health Benefits Benefits decreased healthcare costsdecreased healthcare costs effective for particular conditionseffective for particular conditions free physicians for other tasksfree physicians for other tasks increased interest in health activitiesincreased interest in health activities

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Self Care (cont’d) Self care is an appropriate alternative in 3 areas: Self care is an appropriate alternative in 3 areas: acute conditionacute condition therapytherapy health promotionhealth promotion

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health Care Facilities 3 types of hospitals 3 types of hospitals PrivatePrivate PublicPublic VoluntaryVoluntary Other facilities include: Other facilities include: Nursing homesNursing homes Rehabilitation centersRehabilitation centers Private clinics/centersPrivate clinics/centers

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health Insurance HMO’s HMO’s Medicare Medicare Medicaid Medicaid

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Prescription vs. Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC’s) Prescription drugs require permission from a licensed physician Prescription drugs require permission from a licensed physician Active ingredient is greater than OTC Active ingredient is greater than OTC Price is higher than OTC Price is higher than OTC

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Prescription vs. Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC’s) (cont’d) Both are sold as brand name and generic types Both are sold as brand name and generic types 2,500 prescription drugs are available vs. 300,000 OTC 2,500 prescription drugs are available vs. 300,000 OTC Both are regulated by the FDA Both are regulated by the FDA

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Advanced Medical Directives Legal documents that express desires of the type of care to be provided in the case that you become incapacitated Legal documents that express desires of the type of care to be provided in the case that you become incapacitated TypesTypes Living wills Living wills Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care Medical Power of Attorney for Health Care Organ Donation cards/requests Organ Donation cards/requests

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health Care Quackery and Consumer Fraud 1. Prepare and do your homework regarding information 2. Comparison shop 3. Insist on formal contracts and dated receipts 4. Obtain written instructions/warranties 5. When complaining, put them in writing 6. Press for resolution of your complaints

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Fifteen Becoming an Informed Healthcare Consumer