Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi - (Page 23)

online SITUATION : I’M ON VACATION AND NEED A PRESCRIPTION. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Find a local pharmacy, and pack wisely. If you’ve forgotten a prescription medication at home, you can call your pharmacy and have it relay your prescription to a drugstore wherever you are staying. If you use a national chain, it’s even easier, as your records are part of a larger database from which the local pharmacy can pull information. Know this, however: Some prescriptions— particularly painkillers—are controlled substances and highly regulated. Getting reﬁlls on the road is much more complicated, if it can be done at all. Sometimes, a missing prescription isn’t the result of forgetfulness. You may want to keep your prescription in your carry-on when you travel, lest you arrive at your destination and your checked luggage goes vacationing to Aruba. Are you still searching for Dr. Right? We know looking for a doctor in your area can be a daunting task—so we’ve made it easier for you. Try the Find a Physician tool at www.nmhs.net to search for your new doctor. Need a New Doctor? Questions, Questions You’ve made an appointment to see a physician. now what? instead of sitting in the waiting room, thumbing through a dog-eared copy of Popular Mechanics, pull out a piece of paper and make a list of questions. Think through how you’re feeling and jot down the questions you need answers for—and prioritize them. According to Terry Perrine, M.D., family medicine physician and faculty member with north Mississippi Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Center, patients often get flustered once they step into the exam room— and all the important questions slip away. He suggests taking a notebook in to see the doctor and getting the “doorknob question” out of the way first. “Doctors call it the doorknob question because as they are leaving, they grab the doorknob, and the patient always has another question,” he says. “And, it usually turns out to be the most important one.” So make a list. And use it. I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF MY TEST OR PROCEDURE. SITUATION : SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Do your homework, and be well informed. A well-informed consumer is well armed. Check with your doctor before having tests done. Sometimes, physicians are afﬁliated with multiple hospitals, and you may ﬁnd that one offers services at a more cost-effective rate. Ask to have all costs spelled out for you. That way, there won’t be any surprises. Finally, look over every portion of your bill. Although unintentional, coding errors do occur. If you’re confused, check with the hospital’s patient advocate, who can walk you through the bill’s nuances. Another way to avoid sticker shock: Clear treatments or procedures through your insurance company in advance. Some people are scared of the math involved in deductions and copayments, so they stick their head in the proverbial sand, hoping they will get a bill that’s palatable. Trust us. It’s better to know what’s happening beforehand. Vim & Vigor · SPRI NG 2012 23 http://www.nmhs.net

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