Health Insurance and Medicare Medical Reference

What do you call doctors who specialize in different types of diseases or conditions? How can you know you are going to the right specialist for your problem?

This article explains health insurance ideas that may replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

How the hospital worksAt the Hospital: Checking InMedical SpecialistsHospital Isolation RoomsBeing an active patientBetter Care at Lower CostsPatient Rights and HIPAAHospital Patient AdvocatesWork Closely With Your DoctorWorking With More Than One DoctorYour treatmentCosts of TreatmentSurgery: What to ExpectAnesthesiaHealth Problems and Risks of AnesthesiaMaking decisions about your treatmentSmart Decisions: Know Your OptionsMedical Tests: Questions to Ask the Doctor(What is a PDF document?)Monitoring Your Medicines in the HospitalPreventing problemsPrevent Medical ErrorsKeeping Track of MedicinesHospital Staph Infections (MRSA)Avoiding Infections in the HospitalPreventing Falls in the HospitalYour child in the hospitalNICU: Communicating With the Staff About Your BabyWays to Comfort a Baby in the HospitalPreparing Your Child for the Hospital

Other Works ConsultedCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (2007). Guideline for isolation precautions: Preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings 2007. Available online:

ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney, MD - Family MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineLast RevisedDecember 18, 2012

CitationsAmerican Hospital Association (2003). The Patient Care Partnership: Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities. Available online: http://www.aha.org/content/00-10/pcp_english_030730.pdf

Hospitals can be big, confusing places, especially if you've never been a patient in one before. But by taking the time to learn about how hospitals work and what you can expect, you may be able to lower your stress and concentrate on what's important: feeling better.

Other Works ConsultedCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2010). Guide to Choosing a Hospital. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available online: http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10181.pdf.

Other Works ConsultedRoizen MF, Oz MC (2006). Take control of your health insurance. In You, The Smart Patient, and Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment, 1st ed., pp. 317–342. New York: Free Press.

Medication errors aren't unusual in the hospital. As an active patient, you can keep careful track of the medicines you're getting and help prevent mistakes.If you are allergic to a drug, check your wrist band. It should include all drug allergies.When a nurse comes in to give you medicine, he or she may ask you to repeat your full name. If the nurse doesn't ask, say your full name anyway to be safe.Write everything downBefore you go to the hospital, make a list of all the medicines(What is a PDF document?)—including vitamins and supplements—you are taking. Make several copies of the list to take with you. Keep one copy next to your bed in the hospital.If you're not getting those medicines while you're in the hospital, find out why. There may be a good reason. Or it could be a mistake. Always ask questionsAsk—or have a family member ask— for a copy of your hospital medicines list. When someone comes in to give you medicine, make sure that exact medicine is on the list. If it's

As a smart patient, you want to find out exactly what you need to do after you leave the hospital to stay as healthy as possible. Taking charge of your health after you're home is one of the best ways to prevent a return trip to the hospital.Leaving the HospitalHospital Discharge Checklist(What is a PDF document?)Managing Your Medical BillsOrganizing Your Medical RecordsLiving With More Than One Health Problem

There is much you can do ahead of time to make your hospital experience go more smoothly.Choosing a HospitalChoosing a Health Care ProviderUnderstanding Health InsurancePreparing for Your Hospital StayPreparing Your Child for the HospitalLearn how to manage stressStress ManagementStress in Children and TeensStop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of ThinkingTapping the Power of OptimismFill out important formsLiving WillWriting an Advance DirectiveChoosing a Health Care Agent

Other Works ConsultedAnspaugh DJ, et al. (2011). Becoming a responsible health care consumer. In Wellness: Concepts and Applications, 8th ed., pp. 453–484. New York: McGraw-Hill.

If your doctor wants you to be kept away, or isolated, from other patients while you receive medical care, you may be in a special hospital room, called an isolation room, to keep you separate from other people. This may be done because you have an infection that can be spread to others or because your condition makes you more easily infected by others.How do isolation rooms work?Negative air pressureSometimes isolation rooms use negative air pressure. This helps prevent airborne diseases (such as tuberculosis or flu) from escaping the room and infecting other people. A machine pulls air into the room. Then it filters the air before moving it outside. In a negative air pressure room, you may be able to feel air being sucked into the room under a closed door or through a slightly opened window.Positive air pressureIn other cases, such as when a person has a weakened immune system, positive air pressure may be used. Clean, filtered air is constantly pumped into the room. This is done to

Better Care at Lower CostsNavigating Your Hospital StayOutpatient ServicesPregnancy: Deciding Where to Deliver

OrganizationHealthCare.govPhone: 1-877-696-6775 toll-freeWeb Address: www.healthcare.gov This U.S. Health and Human Services website has information and tools about health insurance and the health care system. For example, you can find quality of care ratings for hospitals and other medical centers. You can learn about health care reform in America and health insurance options. You'll also find tips and tools for staying healthy.

Review the questions to ask about surgery in the topic Share in Every Medical Decision. Get as much information about the surgery as you can, and consider your needs and values. If you are not convinced that the benefits to you outweigh the risks, don't have the surgery. ...

Always ask your doctor about any medication he or she prescribes for you. Ask what would happen if you chose not to take a medication and whether there are alternatives to taking medication. For more information, see the topic Share in Every Medical Decision. ...

A primary care physician such as a family medicine doctor or an internist who knows and understands your needs can be your most valuable health partner. A host of specialists who work on separate health problems may not see your whole health picture or get a good understanding of what's important to you. In choosing a doctor, there are lots of questions to ask, but these three matter the most:Is .

Don't agree to any medical test until you understand how it will help you. For more information, see the topic Share in Every Medical Decision. The only good reason to do a test is because the benefits to you outweigh the risks and costs. No test can be done without your consent.Medical tests are expensive. If you need a test, do your part to make sure that you do not have to repeat it. The tips .

Specialists are doctors who have in - depth training and experience in a particular area of medicine. For example, a cardiologist has years of special training in dealing with heart problems. A visit to a specialist often costs more than a visit to your regular doctor, and the tests and treatments that you receive may be more expensive and invasive. Of course, specialists often provide the ...

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Blood Transfusions: Should I Bank Blood Before Surgery?

A list of resources for information on Work Closely With Your Doctor.

If your symptoms and the guidelines in this Web site suggest you should see a doctor, don't put it off. Ignoring problems often leads to complications that are more expensive to treat. ...

Reducing Medication Costs