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Taking Charge of Your Own Health: Navigating Your Way Through *Diagnosis *Treatment *Insurance *And More

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I've been following all the news in the press and on television about health care reform and one of the major issues has been cost containment. One of the elements overlooked in the trillions of dollars being tossed around is the importance of controlling costs in our present system as a means of immediate reform.
Taking Charge of Your Own Health: Navigating Your Way Through *Diagnosis *Treatment *Insurance *And More
This comes to mind because a friend of mine, who is very good at tracking his own health, talked about a book that was a very valuable resource for him. So I borrowed a copy of Taking Charge of Your Own Health by Lisa Hall. The author challenges readers to take responsibility for their own health care and to be accountable for tests doctors order, prescriptions given, and treatments suggested.

Lisa Hall was misdiagnosed 37 times before a doctor discovered she had an autonomic nervous system dysfunction, likely caused when she was struck by lightning at age 15. Through that entire experience she learned the importance of seeking second opinions, understanding her health insurance coverage, and taking steps to avoid duplicate tests, thus reducing costs.

Among the cost-saving suggestions the author makes are to:

* Manage medications to prevent costly and unnecessary medical interventions.
* Use outpatient clinics instead of ERs when appropriate.
* Avoid costly duplication of tests by maintaining and bringing to the doctor's office your own diagnostic history.

Hall makes sense to me when she argues that it is the patient's responsibility to keep records of their health care and be an active partner in reducing the costs of your own care. She suggests forms to use for medical record keeping in the book and offers the forms for download at her website, [...].

If this approach were followed by thousands of patients the cost savings would be astronomical. In this way we could get an effective head-start on health care reform before the government's complicated package takes effect two and three years from now.

If you are interested in being a participant in health reform now by containing costs in a meaningful way, pick up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Own Health by Lisa Hall. It's good reading and makes a lot of sense to me, as it will to you also.

By Emory Daniels

There are 2 stories in this book. One is about the author's struggle over many years to get a diagnosis for her own rare condition; the other is a compilation of top tips for patients trying to negotiate the US healthcare system.

Patients, their families and those who are not yet patients will benefit from her tips on negotiating the system. Her style is balanced and fair with a recognition of the difficulties which professionals face. The book is written with support and advice from her trusted Primary Care Physician, Dr Ron Wyatt, and they seem to make a good writing team. I especially like the sections giving advice on ensuring that the physician has adequate written information about previous conditions, medication, and past treatments and the book includes templates for recording these. It would certainly help me to help my patients if they were to follow this advice! There is also sensible general dietary and lifestyle advice and discussion of alternative and complimentary therapies. There's a section on the common safety problems which occur in hospitals and advice on how patients can contribute to reducing these risks. Her emphasis on the spiritual aspects of well-being and healing may not be to all tastes but it is included as a component of a holistic approach with a recognition that there may be other views.

The story of the author's struggle to get a diagnosis for her own condition is woven through the book. Clearly her diagnosis was not straightforward, but her description of how she was dealt with by some healthcare professionals makes depressing reading. She describes too many occasions when she was branded neurotic or otherwise psychologically disturbed because we coudn't make a diagnosis and it was only with the long term support of Dr Wyatt and a few others that she persevered. If this book was required reading at all medical schools then students would learn some valuable lessons; listening to the patient is often the best way to reach a diagnosis, be completely honest when you just don't know the answer and treat you patients with the respect that they deserve at all times.

Kevin Stewart MB FRCP
Physician

Lisa Hall has done a fantastic job of weaving her personal story around information EVERYONE needs to know - from how to make the most of those 10 minutes with a doctor to better lifestyle habits. It's an easy book to read with lots of good information. Buy it today!

This is an inspiring read that lets us see what so many around the world go through when it comes to getting the treatment they need and deserve. Lisa Hall is fearless in her pursuit to help others not go through the challenges she faced, and this book is an important step towards that cause.

At a time when health care is front and center in the minds of so many, this book couldn't have come at a better time.

Taking Charge of your own health is a must read for current patients, families, and pre- patients. The book itself is an easy read, simply because of the authors personal story, the outcome of her recovery, once proper diagnosis and care came into play, and I personally found this book to be informative, as well as fascinating about the inn's and out's of the health care system.

Negotiating and navigating the Health Care System, with all it's turns and twists can be difficult, and Ms. Hall did a fine job of crafting tips, through her personal experience, to help the patient in everyway. Although it's the patients job to keep up with their own health and records, it's easy to get lost in the system, especially when the insurance companies are involved. Insurance companies should also read this book, since it might help them to derive better policies.

In conclusion, I strongly urge folks to give this book some attention, especially for the patients that have already been involved with the system, and are hitting brick walls, as Ms. Hall once did. To learn of her story, and what she has done since then, would be a "Best Seller" alone.

John Ross Farley
Patient

Ms Hall has written this book to assist others in navigating diagnosis, treatment and insurance in healthcare. This book is written around the American health care system but much of what is written is applicable to anyone seeking to take responsibility for their own health.
Ms Hall's book is written from first-hand experience. In just under a decade she consulted 38 medical practitioners and was given 37 incorrect diagnoses before being correctly diagnosed and treated. While few will have the rare condition that confounded many medical practitioners in Ms Hall's case, many can benefit from the lessons learned and the strategies she has developed.

The first part of the book is called `Taking Responsibility for Your Health' and touches on living a healthy lifestyle; avoiding injury; preparing for medical visits and, most importantly, effectively communicating with medical practitioners. The second part of the book is called `Taking Charge of Your Attitude' and is focussed on managing adversity, and finding meaning in your experience. For Ms Hall, her belief in God is a sustaining factor.
The final part of the book provides resources and references, some very handy charts for record-keeping, acknowledgements and a guide to medical terminology used in the book.

Good health is something that many take for granted until something goes wrong. Others live with life changing conditions and manage the complexities this results in. Others are care-givers and sometimes advocates for others unable to effectively communicate their own health needs. If you are interested in taking responsibility for your own health, or assisting others, in a complex system of care provision this book provides some very useful insights and information.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

A clean bill of health is not something to ever take lightly. "Taking Charge of Your Own Health: Navigating Your Way Through: Diagnosis, Treatment, & Insurance" is a guide to dealing with the modern world of healthcare, ripe with mistakes, bureaucracy, and misdiagnosis. With a slew of tips and tricks, Lisa Hall hopes to equip readers with the techniques they need to get the medical care they want and deserve. "Taking Charge of Your Own Health" is a resource that shouldn't be missed.

Lisa Hall is a great advocate for people who have been failed by the medical establishment and for those who need guidance so as to not fall victims. She shares her personal experiences with how she not only struggled with her misdiagnosises but her struggles and finally victory, in finding someone to finally help her! Her story gives hope to others in similar situations and brings awareness to the problems that occur too often with doctor/patient issues.
I think most readers will find this book hits home with them in some form, and gives them direction in finding medical resolutions. It's wonderful that she not only shares her own personal experiences, but that she provides the readers with guidelines for their own abilities to "take charge" of their health in an easy yet organized format.
I hope to see more books written by this author as she is one of those "it only takes one person to make a difference" type people. Great Job!

My husband is a surgeon and we both found Lisa Hall's book to be a truly fabulous patient resource. I know from my own personal experience with several medical problems how difficult it can be to navigate the current health care system; I wish I had this book years ago! Lisa covers everything you need to know to help you get the proper diagnosis, seek the appropriate treatment (she even discusses natural therapies) and deal with your insurance company. The book guides you every step of the way so you can regain your health...and your life.

Author Lisa Hall faced a battle which took her to places and through experiences no one wants to endure. After nine long years (and 37 medical practitioners later) this woman who had literally been hit by lightening, found substantive help through her PCP Dr. Ronald Wyatt. Lisa's journey is harrowing not only because she suffered so deeply but also because her story is all too common. Read along with Lisa to learn how to best navigate these current tumultuous medical waters...whether you're healthy or not, you'll come away with something to use (or pass along). Lisa's medicine is of the best sort...it educates, comforts, and cures. Highly recommended!

Michele Howe, author of Burdens Do a Body Good: Meeting Life's Challenges with Strength (and Soul)