Staying Healthy in an Era of Patient Responsibility

Developing a Basic Health Competency

To get the best medical care available today, consumers need to develop a basic health competency—and that includes overseeing your preventive care. Understanding which tests may be appropriate for you at the current time and how often you should be tested is a competency that helps you secure the best care available to you. Even more important than knowing which tests to take when, however, is the knowledge of what your major risks are and how you can prevent the diseases you are at risk of developing. You should:

• Know your family health history
• Know what immunizations you’ve had
• Know what health problems you are at risk for
• Increase your awareness of medical tests that are of value to you
• Talk to and work with your health care provider to maintain your health (identify lifestyle changes you can make that will most improve your health and encourage your health care provider to discuss screening tests with you)
• Review your health insurance plan and talk to your insurance provider (know what your health care plan does and does not cover and understand the processes for getting referrals and reimbursements)

You can still rely on your doctor to tell you what tests are most worthwhile for you, but do so from a base of knowledge about yourself and your health.