Old or young, highly educated or not. Anyone can have trouble understanding and acting upon health information, at any point in time. October marks Health Literacy Month, which is a great time to help your members and patients learn how to make better health decisions. The Healthwise Knowledgebase is full of resources to help people understand lab results, ask the right questions about medicines, and work closely with their doctors to achieve better care.
How to use e-links
Keep your website content fresh and engaging with Healthwise E-links. The copy promotes timely health themes by highlighting topics in the Healthwise® Knowledgebase. Use the copy below on your website homepage or condition-specific pages, and create links to the related Healthwise Knowledgebase topics. You can also place the copy in emails, newsletters, or any other consumer outreach programs. Because of license restrictions, the images seen in Healthwise E-links are for Healthwise use only.
Partnering with your doctor for better care
A strong partnership between you and your doctor is key to getting the best care possible. Not only do you want a doctor who understands what’s important to you, you want one who values your active participation in your own health care. Your doctor is an important resource in helping you understand your care. Sometimes you may have trouble understanding exactly what your doctor is saying. If that happens, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A doctor who knows and understands your needs and concerns can be your most valuable health partner. Use this resource to help you work more closely with your doctor. [Create a hyperlink to the Work Closely With Your Doctor Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=prtnr]
Being a wise health consumer
Good health care begins with you. By taking an active role in your health, you are more likely to get the care that’s right for you. Your doctor is an expert in the medical evidence. But you, and only you, know your values and concerns. Help your doctor understand what matters to you, and together you’ll make better decisions about your care. People who partner with their doctors tend to be happier with their health care decisions and outcomes. From choosing a health professional to making the most of your appointment, here are some tips to help you become a wise health consumer. [Create a hyperlink to the Wise Health Consumer Learning Center on your website. DOCHWID=center1039
Making sense of your lab test results
Your doctor may order a lab test for a number of reasons. He or she may want to use a lab test to confirm a diagnosis, help rule out a disease or condition, or assess the severity of a disease. In most cases, lab test results don’t provide all the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis or propose treatment options. So it’s important for you to understand what the results mean, what factors can affect results, and how your results will be used in determining the next step. Here’s a resource to help you make sense of your lab results and prepare for a conversation with your doctor about the next step in your diagnosis or treatment. [Create a hyperlink to the Understanding Lab Test Results Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=zp3409]
Weighing your options and preferences
You make health decisions throughout your life. And those decisions impact many aspects of your life, as well as the quality and cost of your care. So it’s important to be well informed before making these decisions. You’ll want to work closely with your doctor to make a decision that’s right for you based on the medical evidence and your personal values. A good decision takes into account the benefits, risks, and costs of each option, plus your own needs and wants. Here’s a helpful guide to making key decisions about medical tests, medicines, surgery, and other health issues. [Create a hyperlink to the Smart Decisions: Know Your Options Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=share]
Understanding the what, why, when, and how of your medicines
Think about the last medicine your doctor prescribed. Did you know whether to take it with or without food or water? Did you know what to do if you missed a dose? Did you know if there was something you could do instead of taking the medicine? When it comes to medicines, it’s important to know as much as possible about what you’re taking. Understanding the what, why, when, and how can help you stay on track and live better. Here’s a list of questions you might ask your doctor or pharmacist about your current medicines, or save it for the next medicine your doctor prescribes. [Create a hyperlink to the Questions to Ask About Your Medicines Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=ug5184]
Teasers for Your Social Media Networks
- Learn how to partner with your doctor to get the best care possible. [Insert a shortened URL to the Work Closely With Your Doctor Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=prtnr]
- Good health care starts with you. Learn how to become a wise health consumer. [Insert a shortened URL to the Wise Health Consumer Learning Center on your website. DOCHWID=center1039]
- Make sense of your lab test results with this helpful guide. [Insert a shortened URL to the Understanding Lab Test Results Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=zp3409]
- Here’s help making smart health care decisions. [Insert a shortened URL to the Smart Decisions: Know Your Options Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=share]
- How much do you know about the medicines you’re taking? Here’s a helpful question list. [Insert a shortened URL to the Questions to Ask About Your Medicines Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=ug5184]
