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Many people -- and probably most -- don't grow up knowing how to arrange for or manage their own healthcare. For some, that’s because our parents, guardians, or other family members did it for us. For others, it’s because we never got regular healthcare so we could learn how it works. Some of us only went to the doctor, clinic, or emergency room when something was very very wrong; some of us had yearly check-ups with the same doctor, in the same place and knew we (or more likely our parents or guardians) could call the doctor’s office any time we were sick.
Whatever your healthcare was like growing up, you may be responsible for it now or very soon. Sexual healthcare is a kind of care that people often don't want parents or guardians involved in, so it may be that seeking out sexual healthcare is where you find you first need to navigate your healthcare on your own.
We know that can be daunting or intimidating. But managing your healthcare mostly just comes down to the following things:
Doing some research.
Being and staying organized.
Communicating clearly and respectfully, asking questions and taking responsibility for gathering and keeping the information you're given.
Recognizing that your health matters and is very important, and keeping that strongly in mind, and in practice, in all your interactions with healthcare providers.
Those are the barest of basics. What follows are specifics so that you can hopefully feel more capable and less frazzled as you start managing your own healthcare, or find some helps to troubleshoot care that's not working out for you in any way. What the healthcare you get, of any kind, is like, and how it'll go, will depend on your own health, the kind of healthcare you have access to, and your personal preferences about the kind and frequency of healthcare you get. How it all goes will also often have just as much to do with you as it does a provider.
This is the well-being of your own body and mind we're talking about here: being able to navigate the healthcare system, to whatever extent you choose to do so and are able to do so, is a crucial skill for maintaining or improving that well-being. So, have a read about choosing a doctor, calling to get an appointment, preparing for an appointment and getting the most out of your interactions with healthcare providers and healthcare support staff.
Choosing a Healthcare Provider
When you're starting to take care of your own health, the first thing you'll usually need to do is to decide whether to stay with a current healthcare provider (if you have one) or choose a new one. If you already have a provider you like, it’s a good idea to stick with them if possible. They will already have an extensive record of your health history and will be familiar with your needs from having examined and talked with you over time. Continuity of care like that is ideal.
Eventually, though, you will probably be faced with the task of choosing a new health care provider. Your current provider might retire, you might move to a new city, your healthcare plan might change, or your needs and preferences for what a provider can offer might become different. Alternatively, you may never have liked the provider that was chosen for you by family or guardians, and may jump at the chance to switch when you finally can.
Through the years, we’ve talked to many young people who have expressed concerns about discussing personal health needs with providers who also see their family members. Healthcare providers are required, when not by law than at least by ethics, to keep things confidential, no matter how many members of the same family they have as patients. We know, though, that many people are still intimidated by the idea of sharing a provider with family members and may refrain from sharing important health info out of a continued fear that the information will make it's way back to family. If you're feeling this way, and have been holding back on telling your provider about everything that is going on with you health-wise, finding someone new to provide your healthcare, if you're able, is likely the best choice.
The type of health coverage you have (if any) will usually impact how much of a choice you have in who your healthcare provider will be. The choice, when you have one, can sometimes seem overwhelming. If you open up the phone book or visit your insurance provider’s Web site, you’ll probably see a huge list of names.
What are you looking for in a provider?
An important step in finding a good provider for you is to decide exactly what you are looking for in a healthcare professional. Go ahead, sit down and make a wish list about what you need and want. With your list in mind when you begin your search for a provider, you'll be more able to find someone who will mesh well with you.
