Create Your Care Team
Building partnerships with providers dedicated to your physical and emotional wellness helps ensure you receive quality care tailored to your unique needs and health goals.
Building partnerships with your doctors dedicated to your physical and emotional wellness helps ensure you receive quality care tailored to your unique needs and health goals.
Tune in to our podcast episode, where Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van Dunn explains why healthy relationships with your healthcare providers are so important.
A Message from Rafael A. Lantigua, MD
Building Trust Is at the Heart of Great Healthcare
Trust is at the heart of the best relationships between a patient and the primary healthcare provider. In fact, establishing and maintaining a trusted relationship could prove pivotal to your long-term health and well-being.
For non-experts, healthcare systems may seem complicated and confusing at times. Your primary care provider can be a valuable partner as you try to navigate them. Make building a connection with those who are there to care for you a priority — it can help maximize the care you receive. Your providers are there to help!
Your primary care provider should know as much as possible about you and your lifestyle. He or she may ask questions that don’t seem relevant, but when I care for my patients, any details about their lives and the choices they make can influence the care that I am able to provide. Knowing about my patient’s children, household, relationships, family history, job and more can influence my diagnosis and my treatment a great deal. Come to your appointment prepared and ask pertinent questions during the visit.
Take stock of how much your doctor knows about you and what additional details you can provide. A healthy relationship is all about trust going both ways.
Un Mensaje de Rafael A. Lantigua, MD
Construyendo Confianza en el Corazón de un Magnífico Sistema de Salud
La confianza está en el corazón de las mejores relaciones entre un paciente y un proveedor de atención médica primaria. De hecho, establecer y mantener una relación de confianza podría resultar fundamental para su salud y bienestar a largo plazo.
Para la gente no experta, los sistemas de salud pueden parecer complicados y confusos a veces. Su proveedor de atención primaria puede ser un socio valioso a medida que intenta navegarlos. Construir una conexión con aquellos que están allí para cuidar de usted debe ser una prioridad: puede ayudar a maximizar la atención que recibe. Sus proveedores están ahí para ayudar!
Su proveedor de atención primaria debe saber tanto como sea posible sobre usted y su estilo de vida. Él o ella puede hacer preguntas que no parecen relevantes, pero cuando cuido a mis pacientes, cualquier detalle sobre sus vidas y las decisiones que toman pueden influir en la atención que puedo brindar. Conocer sobre los hijos de mi paciente, el hogar, las relaciones, los antecedentes familiares, el trabajo y más puede influir mucho en mi diagnóstico y mi tratamiento. Venga preparado y haga preguntas pertinentes durante la visita.
Haga un balance de cuánto sabe su médico sobre usted y qué detalles adicionales puede proporcionar. Una relación saludable tiene que ver con la confianza en ambos sentidos.
A Message from Karinn Glover, MD, MPH
We are still living through pretty remarkable times: a pandemic, violence and social unrest. As we weather these times, we try to manage our stress, our shock and our sadness. Some of us eat comfort foods and scroll through social media, while others disconnect and meditate or hit the gym. To each their own. No matter what you do, here are some things to keep in mind about common self-management techniques.
Above all, check in with yourself about what you’re taking in. Watching the news, engaging with social media, dealing with bullies in real life or people who routinely instigate conflict can be very taxing on our well-being.
Next, consider all you do in response to the stress of the day. Take a deep breath? Snack on some cookies? Surf the Internet? All of those, in moderation, are fine. But if you treat your stress-related insomnia with screen time or if the snacks are making your clothes uncomfortably tight, it’s time to integrate other techniques into your routine.
Establish a Routine
Checking in with your doctor for an annual exam and any necessary screenings is a great start. The doctor who knows you best isn’t one who only sees you when you are sick. Regular, routine care builds knowledge and trust between you and your doctor.
Find a Good Fit
Quality Care Requires an Open Dialogue
A Conversation with Dr. Rafael Lantigua and Sandra Harris on The Importance of the Patient-Provider Relationship
Una conversación con el Dr. Rafael Lantigua y Sandra Harris sobre la importancia de la relación entre proveedor y paciente
Come Prepared
Your care team is made up of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists and more – all working together to support your health. With your team coordinating services and treatment plans when needed, you can be confident knowing you’re getting well-rounded care.
Take Your Time
Finding the best therapist for you may not happen right away. It’s okay to move on if the fit doesn’t feel right or to readjust as your needs or concerns change.
Build a Relationship with Your Provider
Look for a doctor whose communication style and personality mesh with yours.
Keep your appointments and stay up to date on regular check-ups and screenings.
Make a list of questions or concerns you want to discuss during your appointment.
Be honest about your lifestyle and habits.
Ask follow-up questions if you don’t understand.
Bring a friend or family member with you to help remember questions – and any information or instructions the doctor shares.
To start your search, visit findadoc.1199SEIUBenefits.org.
Questions to Ask a Healthcare Provider After a Diagnosis
What is the test for and when will I get the results?
How do you spell the name of that drug?
Are there any side effects?
Will it interact with medicines that I’m already taking?
Why do I need this treatment?
Can you explain this in layperson’s terms?
Are there any alternative treatments?
What are the possible complications?
Should I be referred to a specialist?
Which hospital is best for my needs?
How many times have you done this procedure?
Is there anything that you think I should ask that I haven’t asked?
Questions to Ask a Therapist
What kind of therapy do you do?
What is a typical session like?
How should I prepare for my first session?
How do you measure progress?
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I feel comfortable with this therapist?
Do my background and experiences align with the therapist’s approach?
Does the therapist specialize in the area I want to address?
What do I hope to get out of therapy?
Am I ready to change?
Statistics
76% of people in U.S. have a regular primary care provider.
Source: health.gov, 2017
87% of people in the U.S. believe having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of.
Source: American Psychiatric Association
74% of people in U.S. have a positive view of doctors.
Source: Pew Research Center report
86% believe people with mental health disorders can get better.
Resources
Access free or reduced-cost community services and programs close to where you live or work with findhelp.org. Search for support in your community, including housing assistance, emotional well-being resources, child care, legal help and more.
Visit findhelp.1199SEIUBenefits.org to get started.
Programs at Your Worksite
As an 1199SEIU member, you may have access to programs where you work to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
The information contained in this site is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. See terms of use.
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