Hernan Drobny MD

Your Health, Your Choice Hernan Drobny MD

No one goes to the doctor for fun! YOUR HEALTH, YOUR CHOICE offers the tools to empower you to effectively participate in your own health care. As medical care has become more specialized, it is increasingly important to be a confident and informed participant in your own health care. The premise of this book is that actively collaborating with your doctor in making health care decisions, improves your health outcomes and the quality of your life. It also lowers health care costs. This book covers topics such as: How you benefit from participating in making personal medical decisions. How emotions, beliefs, and irrational reactions influence the choices you make. How your understanding and view of risk can affect your decisions. How to prepare to go to the doctor so that all your concerns will be considered. How to obtain reliable medical information. How to avoid the tendency to use more medical treatments, procedures, and technologies than are necessary. Why you sometimes surrender your autonomy. How you can best ensure that your wishes regarding health care choices will be carried out if you're not capable of expressing them due to a physical or mental inability (through legal documents called "Advance Directives"). How advanced age may influence your health care choices. How to consider the option of participating in clinical investigations. Where you should go to obtain the services you need. How to choose a primary care provider. Why having personal support can improve the ability to make good choices. The concepts presented are based on medical evidence and are illustrated by case anecdotes.