Family Medicine
At Covenant Health, we are committed to providing the best possible care.
That means answering your questions, anticipating your concerns, ensuring
you have all the information you need to make the best decisions for yourself
and your family, and making you an active participant in your treatment.
The following is a list of ways you can participate in your care:
Before the appointment
- Become educated about your health insurance benefits.
- Research the most current treatment options related to your condition.
- Make a list of questions for your doctor or nurse and practice asking them.
- Practice telling doctors about your symptoms and how you are feeling.
- Keep a notebook of current medications and other relevant information to
discuss with your doctor.
At the hospital
- Ask a nurse or doctor to answer your questions.
- Bring an advocate (friend or family member) who can listen, take notes
and help ask questions. Tell your family when issues are too difficult
for you to handle alone.
- Be honest with yourself and your doctor about your needs, expectations
and feelings regarding your care. Be specific about what treatments you
want or do not want. If you are unsure, ask for time to think over your
decisions before signing consent forms.
- Keep communication open at all times. Make sure you have designated a family
member or friend with “power of attorney” in writing in the
event that you cannot communicate your wishes (see your attorney or notify
your nurse if you do not have this).
- Ask for written discharge instructions for medications, return appointments
and information for follow-up care.
Adapted from
Essential Allies: Families as Advisors, courtesy of the Institute for Family-Centered Care, Bethesda, Maryland.
By working together, we can ensure that your every experience with us is
a good one.
To experience the difference the Covenant philosophy can make in your health
care, use our online tools to
find a physician.