Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi - (Page 21)

vival Sur Patient Guide Y Navigate the healthcare system like a pro with these tips I don’t have a doctor. Survival Strategy: Ask around, and start researching. Here’s a time the Internet is good for something other than status updates and recipes. If you don’t have a physician and haven’t found a good referral from friends or family, you can use online resources—such as your local hospital’s website—to find one suited to your needs. Major insurance carriers allow searches by location, subspecialty and other criteria. If those websites aren’t enough, check with the state’s medical board website to confirm that your prospective doctor is board-certified in his or her specialty. More helpfully, this site lets you know whether a doctor has complaints or sanctions for malpractice. ou have a nagging cough. Or a hitch in your step. And you’ve been putting off a visit to your doctor. It could be because you’re too busy. Or you fear the outcome. Or maybe you think you won’t get an appointment or the doctor is too busy for your minor ailment. You may think your reasoning is sound, but avoiding the doctor’s office is no way to feel better. In fact, with the right resources and some useful information, you can improve your own healthcare experience. Consider us your Healthcare Sherpa, steering you toward streamlined appointments, efficient services and overall satisfaction. Just use this Vim & Vigor Patient Survival Guide to get started. Situation : By John Tomkiw photograph by photoLIbrary Vim & Vigor • Spri ng 2012 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi
Opening Thoughts
Building Healthier Hearts
Young at Heart
Caring for the Little Ones
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
SPECIAL You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
Get Heart Healthy!
Growing Stronger
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi