Videos share tips on health advocacy

In just a few minutes, you can learn some basic but important information about your medical care and how to stay healthy in the coming year. IDF’s Consulting Medical Advisor for Health Equity Dr. Nicole Rochester shares health guidelines in two short videos, “Five Questions to Ask Your Doctor” and “Five Tips for a Healthy 2022.”

Dr. Rochester is a board-certified pediatrician, professional health advocate, TEDx and keynote speaker, health equity consultant, and the CEO of Your GPS Doc, LLC, a company that helps aging individuals, those with chronic illnesses, and their family caregivers navigate the healthcare system. She has an active presence on social media and produces the YouTube show, Navigator Nuggets.

Dr. Rochester obtained her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

“Five Questions to Ask Your Doctor” is a primer on the key questions you should pose to your health provider during a visit so that you can make the most of your appointment and leave feeling confident that you understand your diagnosis and what steps you can take to get better. The first three questions are adapted from The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Ask Me 3 Campaign.

Those questions are:

• What is my main problem? Focus on your main problem by asking your healthcare provider to explain the diagnosis, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what is wrong.
• What do I need to do about it? Know what next steps your healthcare provider has recommended, which could be an over-the-counter medicine, a prescription, modifying diet or physical activity, blood work, computed tomography (CT) scan, X-rays, or following up with a specialist.
• Why is it important for me to do this? Start a dialogue with your healthcare provider to address any concerns, questions, or challenges that you may have in following through with recommendations, and to understand why these recommendations are important.
• How can I reach you if I have questions or concerns? Ask your healthcare provider how to contact them for follow-up questions, whether that be by phone, patient portal, or email, so that you can have your concerns and challenges addressed as they come up.
• What are the alternatives to the recommended therapy? Inquire about alternatives to standard treatments or therapies if you have concerns about your ability to carry them out, the cost, side effects, or complications.

“Five Tips for a Healthy 2022” encourages people to take charge of their health and become an advocate for themselves in their medical care.

Dr. Rochester’s tips include:

• Become the expert for your medical care. Read about your medical condition, research reputable sites on the web, and ask questions and take notes during appointments with your healthcare provider.
• Maintain an accurate medication list. Keep your own up-to-date medication list to share with healthcare providers in all settings because on many occasions they may not have access to accurate records.
• Review your health insurance plan annually. Changes to healthcare plans occur each year with open enrollment, so to avoid unexpected medical bills, know if your healthcare provider is in-network, which prescription medications and procedures are covered, and what your benefits are overall. Pay particular attention to excluded services (which are not covered by your insurance plan).
• Engage in a healthy habit daily. Developing healthy habits like walking daily, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and choosing healthier foods goes a long way to your overall well-being.
• Advocate for yourself in healthcare settings. Ask healthcare providers to rephrase medical information in non-medical terms if you don’t understand and engage in conversation with healthcare providers so that you are an active member of your medical team.