Unit 6: Health

Lesson 6: Seek and Follow Appropriate Medical Advice

OBJECTIVES

1. Identify different types of health-care services.

2. Identify how to get health insurance to help pay for health care.

3. Identify important information that a person should ask a doctor.

4. Understand the importance of following the directions for taking medications.

MATERIALS NEEDED
marker board or something to write on

yellow pages

labels from over-the-counter medications with instructions

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
This lesson will cover a broad range of topics to provide the student with information about maximizing health-care services. Going to see a doctor is not going to guarantee that a person will get well. You need to know what to ask and follow the directions the doctor gives you. Additionally, you need to be able to pay for these services. It is almost impossible to pay for good healthcare coverage with out-of-pocket money. That is the purpose for the discussion on health insurance.

1. Discuss the importance of seeking medical care when needed. Many people do not go to the doctor because of inconvenience, money, and fear. These are all legitimate reasons for avoiding a doctor's office. However, stress to students that putting off seeing a doctor can cause greater inconvenience, money, and fear.
   
   

2. Discuss available health-care options in your community. In general, if a person has health insurance through a job or the government (Medicaid), he will be given a list of what physicians he can see. Most insurance companies require that people see a primary care physician before going to a specialist. Inform students that they can go see a specialist any time they want, but they will most likely have to pay for the visit themselves. As a class, go through the Yellow Pages and look up different types of health care providers. The best section to look under is "Physicians." This will give a list of physicians by specialty. Most people will go to an internal medicine physician or family practice physician for basic health care such as colds, sprains, cuts, etc. Again, people who have health insurance would pick their doctor from a list that the insurance companies provide. Have the students pick out other specialties and discuss what problems those physicians treat. For example, a dermatologist treats skin problems, an orthopedist treats injuries to bones, joints, and muscles, and an opthalmalogist treats problems with eyes.
   
   

3. Discuss various health-care options available in your community. Of course, the clinic where your doctor is located is where you go for basic medical care. Insurance companies usually dictate where a person can go for emergency hospital care. Have students look through the Yellow Pages to identify different hospitals and clinics in the area. Discuss whether there is free medical care available in the community and where it is located. Discuss alternative forms of medical care such as chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture. These are alternative ways to relieve pain and discomfort, especially in the back.
   
   

4. Discuss how to get health insurance. Most people get health insurance through their employer. People who are disabled or retired are entitled to government health insurance through the Medicaid and Medicare systems. A person who is not eligible for health insurance from any of these sources can purchase health insurance independently through an insurance company. However, the monthly premiums (amount of money the person pays for the insurance) are expensive, and coverage is limited. When health insurance is offered through work, the company usually pays part of the premium and the employee pays the rest each month. This will entitle the employee and family, if covered, to seek medical treatment at a significantly reduced cost. Depending on the coverage, the employee may have to pay a certain percentage of the total medical costs, a flat fee for each visit to the doctor, or may pay nothing at all. The amount a person pays toward the premium and the amount of coverage a person gets is going to vary tremendously. Common areas in which insurance companies pay most of the cost include: doctor visits, routine diagnostic services (x-ray, blood and urine tests), medical treatment, approved medications, emergency services, and hospital costs.
   
   

5. When a person goes to a doctor, she has the right to have all medical decisions explained to her. Some doctors do a good job at communicating with patients and some doctors do a poor job. The patient also has a responsibility to explain all health problems and answer all questions from the doctor honestly. The following is a list of information a person should ask a doctor during a doctor's visit.
   
   

   • Anytime you do not understand something the doctor says, ask her to explain it to you.
     
     

   • When a doctor indicates that she wants to perform a diagnostic test beyond standard measurements, such as weight, blood pressure, and temperature, you can ask what she is looking for when doing an x-ray, blood test, or other tests.
     
     

   • You should ask for the results and an explanation of all diagnostic tests.
     
     

   • When a doctor gives you a diagnosis, but you do not understand what it means, you can ask the doctor to explain it to you.
     
     

   • When a doctor tells you to do something to help an ailment, such as apply ice to a sprained ankle, you can ask the doctor how that will help.
     
     

   • Anytime the doctor gives you an instruction and you do not understand it or need further clarification, ask him to provide more information.
     
     

   • When a doctor prescribes medication, you can ask: Why? For how long? and What are the side effects? The pharmacist can also answer these questions.
     
     

   • Before you leave the doctor's office you should make sure you know whether you need to call the doctor for any test results or need to schedule a follow-up visit.
     
     

6. Discuss the importance of following directions for taking medication exactly as written on the label or handout provided. Taking the wrong amount at the wrong time along with certain food or drugs can make the medications completely ineffective. A worst-case scenario of not following the directions is illness or death. The Food and Drug Administration provides the following tips for taking medications safely.
   
   

   • If your symptoms are not improving, call your doctor. You may need a different dosage or drug. Alternatively, the drug may need to be in your system for a while before improvements are noticed.
     
     

   • If you get any severe side effects, call your doctor. Examples include vomiting, trouble breathing, headaches, rashes, and loss of consciousness.
     
     

   • Do not stop taking medications when you feel better. Follow the advice about when you should stop.
     
     

   • Check drug labels for specific instructions such as "take with food" or "do not take with milk."
     
     

   • Check to see where the medications should be stored.
     
     

   • Always keep medications out of the reach of children.
     
     

   • Never let another person take your medication and never take the medication of another person. Even though your symptoms may be the same, you may be suffering from an entirely different illness.
     
     

   • Keep a list of all drugs you are taking, so your doctor and pharmacist can make appropriate decisions about which medications would be safe.
     
     

7. Pass around the different drug labels and have students read the instructions out loud. Assist students who have difficulty reading. Ask the students questions to test their understanding of the instructions. Use the following examples as guides for the questioning.
   
   

   • The instructions indicated that a person should take no more that eight pills in a 24 hour period (two every six hours). Is it OK to take three pills every five hours?
     
     

   • The instructions indicated that the medication should not be mixed with alcohol. Is it OK to take the medication and have two beers at dinner?
     
     

   • The instructions indicated that a person should not operate heavy machinery when taking the medication. Is it OK to drive?
     
     

   • The instructions indicated that the pills should be taken with food. Is it OK to take the medication and then eat something an hour later?
     
     

   • The instructions indicated to take the medication until all the pills are gone. Is it OK to stop a few days earlier if you are feeling better?

SIGNS OF GENERALIZATION
Students are able to make appropriate decisions about health care services when needed. When students do become ill, they increase their likelihood of getting better because they communicate with their physician and follow instructions carefully.

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