Merck Manual

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Introduction to Making the Most of Health Care

By

Michael R. Wasserman

, MD, California Association of Long Term Care Medicine

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2023
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To make the most out of available health care options, people should participate actively in their health care process. Active and effective participation means many things, including the following:

For people with a specific disorder, active participation also means monitoring their own health. For example, people with hypertension regularly measure their blood pressure, and people with diabetes regularly measure their blood sugar level.

Good communication—open, honest sharing of information—with doctors and other health care professionals is crucial because it leads to better health care. With good communication, doctors better understand the problems a person is having, and the person better understands how problems can be treated. It also fosters trust and confidence between the doctor and the person, making the person more likely to follow the treatment regimen. Information on the internet (see Researching a Disorder Researching a Disorder When a disorder is first diagnosed, the doctor or other health care professional often gives a handout that summarizes key points of information. (See also Introduction to Making the Most of... read more ), if it is reliable, can help people learn about their health and conditions in ways that can enhance their relationship with their practitioner. However, dialogue between people and their health care professionals is essential to put information obtained from the internet into relevant personalized context.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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