Patient2Patient Newsletter

June 1, 2003
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In This Issue:

* Parkinson's Update
* Upcoming P2P Guides
* NEW Subscriber Series - Patient Best Practices Guides
* Best Patient Practices: "Finding a Doctor" Part 1
* Quote
* Humor

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Parkinson's Update:

Starting June 1st, subscribers to the Parkinson's WebGuide can download
an updated version of the Parkinson's WebGuide. This revised WebGuide
contains some terrific new sites for Parkinson's patients. It also
updates the old sites by highlighting new content and navigation.

THE UPDATED PARKINSON'S WEBGUIDE INCLUDES:

* A new site that provides medical and treatment information in video
and audio format. View a Parkinson's patient visiting his doctor;

* An additional insurance site that outlines the rights and laws of
every state, and explains how these insurance laws affect you;

* A new alternative/complementary therapy site that highlights specific
supplements and herbs for Parkinson's patients. Check out its extensive
herbal database;

* An online support community for Parkinson's patients and caregivers.
It offers all kinds of specific groups and hosts daily chats;

* And, under "Parkinson's News," a dynamite new site that allows you to
receive daily Parkinson's news from all the major news sources delivered
right to your e-mail Inbox.

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*NEW* Subscriber Series

Beginning this summer, current subscribers will be able to download the
first in our series of Best Patient Practicesä Guides. The first guide
will be "THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR."

Upcoming guides will include: "How to Get an Effective Second Opinion,"
"Surviving and Thriving in the Hospital," and The Ten Most Important
Questions to Ask in the Hospital."

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UPCOMING Patient2Patient WebGuides:

WebGuides for Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy and Multiple Sclerosis will
be available soon. The launch dates for each of these guides will be
announced in a later newsletter


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Patient Best Practices

Finding a Doctor - Part 1
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Most people spend more time and energy shopping for a new car than they
do trying to find a doctor for a serious or even life-threatening
condition.

Here are some things to consider:

1. DON'T ACCEPT A REFERRAL IF IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

Patients will often go to the medical specialist whom they have been
referred to by their treating physician. There is nothing wrong with
that. We trust our treating physicians, so we rely on their
recommendations. But you want to be sure this specialist is right for
you! (If you aren't happy with your treating physician then you may not
be happy with their recommendation).

And keep in mind that, while we hope a referral is based on sound
medical judgment, your treating physician may be recommending a friend
or colleague. In addition, your doctor probably hasn't been their
patient. Their opinion may not be based on feedback from other patients.
How do you know? You can ask your doctor the following:

  "How do you know this specialist?"

  "What is the nature of their practice?"

  "How many patients with my particular illness or condition does he/she
see?"

  "How many other patients have you referred to this doctor?"

  "What has been their experience?"


2. ON YOUR FIRST VISIT WITH A NEW SPECIALIST, ASK QUESTIONS.

On your first visit with a new specialist, you need to establish their
credentials in addition to finding out about your illness and potential
treatments. So ask this doctor:

a) "Are you a specialist for patients with my specific condition?"

For example, you may see an Oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer. But
how many patients with your specific type of cancer has this doctor
treated? The more familiar they are with your specific condition - the
treatments, complications, medications, tests and procedures, etc., the
better.

Also ask,

b) "How many patients like me have you seen and treated for this
condition?"
(By "like me" we mean how many patients your age, with your stage (or
degree) of this particular disease and any other complications).

If you are dealing with other conditions or physical problems that make
treatment more complicated, ask your doctor to tell you about similar
patients he or she has treated.

3. YOU SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE ASKING QUESTIONS.

You are placing a tremendous responsibility in this doctor's (this
stranger's) hands. So make sure it is someone you can trust and speak
to. This doctor should allow, and hopefully welcome, your participation
in understanding your condition and making treatment decisions.

If your doctor is cold, or does not listen, or does not seem to care
about your questions, or is not willing to engage in a full discussion,
you should think about finding another doctor.

Finding a new doctor is the subject of an upcoming newsletter. But if
you need to find a new doctor right now…

Briefly, the first place to start is to ask people you know - especially
people with your illness or with a similar condition. Next, contact a
national or local organization that advocates for your condition and ask
them about recognized medical centers or specialty doctors in your area.
You can also ask for recommendations from members of an online or local
support group. (National organizations can often refer you to local
support groups.) Be sure to ask anyone with a recommendation to describe
his or her experience with this doctor.

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Quote

"If you don't think every day is a good day, try missing one."

Cavett Robert


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Humor

What did the Zen Monk say to the New York City hot dog vendor?

"Make me one with everything."

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Feel Good!

The Staff of Patient2Patient


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We welcome your comments about this newsletter and our WebGuides -
Feedback@patient2patient.net.

(c) Copyright 2003 Patient2Patient, LLC.  You are welcome to forward
this issue to someone you know, in its entirety (without cutting).