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Being a WakeWise Health Care Consumer

One of the biggest challenges that our society faces is the provision and cost of health care insurance and related services.  There are many, many complex drivers associated with the economics of health care.  However, two of the drivers involve things that you and I can do every day to help contain cost and use the health care system in the best way possible.

The first and most important, for many reasons, is for you and your family to reach and maintain the best level of health that you possibly can.  As time goes on, everything that you do to stay healthy and well has the great potential to positively or negatively contribute to your overall wellbeing today and into the future as you age.  Just like the small but regular contributions that you make to your 401K or savings plan add up as they compound over time, the same applies to your health management:  Not smoking; having an annual physical; identifying health concerns early and correcting them or managing them with your doctor’s help. Regular exercise, adequate water intake, and a diet high in vegetables and fruits and fiber are key to good health.  Also, a diet low in red meat, saturated fat, and sugar and giving the body and mind time to rest and relax through restorative rest, sleep, meditation, and relaxation can all have a big impact on your health and wellbeing.

The reality is even with doing as much as we can to stay healthy and well, we can still get sick.  Being a well informed health care consumer means knowing how to use the resources within your health care plan and system appropriately.  Here are some guidelines to think about in becoming a WakeWise Health Care Consumer.

• If you do not already have a doctor, establish a relationship with a doctor while you are well by selecting a doctor in your plan and getting an annual physical. During an illness or emergency is not the best time to have your first visit with your new doctor if you can help it.
• During your visit with your selected doctor ask him or her about how they handle urgent situations versus regular appointment visits- do they have an “urgent clinic” side to their practice or is there generally a wait time for appointments?
• Utilize CIGNA’s oncall  CIGNA 24 hour Healthcare Information line

Experienced Registered Nurses and other healthcare professionals provide confidential answers to your healthcare questions, home care suggestions, and recommended places to obtain care.  An audio library is also available on many topics of interest. Call the toll free number on your card to access.

• Knowing when you need to do home care versus seeing a doctor versus using the emergency room at the hospital.  Common conditions such as colds, sore throats, mild stomach upsets, mild fevers/flu type illnesses and the like can usually be handled at home with over the counter remedies and rest.
• Conditions that do not respond to home care and/or are lasting for an extended period of time or involve a change in body function or condition need to be evaluated by your doctor. Examples include, a fever over 100 degrees; a persistent headache or frequent headaches; persistent pain anywhere in your body; increase in urination; blood in urine or stool; change in appetite; unexplained weight loss or gain; unexplained swelling in the legs and feet; persistent cough; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; persistent stomach discomfort; body rash with or without a fever; unexplained tiredness; or signs of infection (redness, swelling, discolored drainage).
• Conditions that require Immediate attention through Emergency Services (911) and/or the emergency room include these examples- symptoms of a heart attack (chest/jaw/neck/arm pain with or without nausea); symptoms of a stroke (severe headache of sudden onset with or without arm or face or tongue numbness droopiness or change in vision; loss of consciousness; dizziness; severe stomach pain; sudden changes in body functions (cannot urinate; cannot stand); severe nausea/vomiting/or diarrhea; vomiting or coughing up blood; symptoms of an allergic reaction (rash/tongue or throat swelling); injury that involves any fall over 4 feet; broken bones; any eye injury; or any crush, cuts, or puncture wounds that that are not minor enough to be managed with usual common first aid measures. Situations like these are true emergencies.
• Other ways, to be a WakeWise Health Care consumer include exploring with your doctor and pharmacist the use of generic or equivalent over the counter medications.

Your friends at WakeWise Wellness wish you and your family a safe and healthy year in 2008.