According to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, Americans spend more time researching car purchases and new appliances than they do choosing doctors and health plans. February is National Wise Health Care Consumer Month and this month is all about encouraging people to make smart informed decisions when it comes to their healthcare. “Good healthcare is a partnership between the patient and the provider. Being a well-informed patient helps you communicate with your provider, understand your options, and effectively follow through with recommendations,” said Stamps Health Services senior director, Dr. Holton. We spoke with Dr. Holton to better understand easy tips you can use to be a wise health care consumer:

1. Prepare for your doctors’ appointment in advance by keeping a journal of concerns and writing down all questions ahead of time. It’s easy to forget your questions during the appointment. Preparing ahead of time allows for you to leave with the assurance you need that all concerns were addressed.
2. The single best way to keep medical costs down is to detect health issues early. Physical exams at the recommended intervals are an important preventative measure you can take to stay on top of your health.
3. Understand the medications you are taking and possible side effects that may occur. When your doctor prescribes a medication, make sure they know what else you take including prescription and non-prescription medications, herbal supplements, and home remedies.
4. When your doctor prescribes a medication, ask if there is a generic version available that is appropriate to treat your condition. Generic versions are typically much less expensive.
5. When your doctor prescribes a medication, take it according to the directions on the prescription, and complete the course of treatment as recommended.
6. There is a lot of health information on the internet, not all of it accurate. Look for information from reliable sources, such as the CDC, WebMD,  the Mayo Clinic, and specialty societies such as the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, etc.

Being a wise health care consumer starts with individual choices that you can make before, during and after your appointments. It’s important to provide your medical team with your most current health information to help them make the best, most informed analysis when providing care. For more information about on-campus medical resources available to you go to health.gatech.edu to learn more.