MedSteps

A series of steps guiding toward the best medical care

1. Diagnosis – Ask any carpenter: Measure twice cut once
   • The three most common types of blunders (2013 John Hopkins investigation): failure to diagnose (54%) delay in diagnosis (20%) wrong diagnosis (10%).
   • The lens of the diagnostician is just as critical as a surgeon. Surgeons can be traced based on their handiwork and their immediate success. However, only complete success can be an undoubted test for the diagnostician, any failure can be blamed on surgeries or medication.
   • Trusting your gut and reasoning is the only coarse to dead set clarity, so what makes us sure?
   • The following questions can be raised before you carry on towards a second opinion.
     1. I understand that the doctor is convinced of a disease but how confident could I be that he sure about the diagnosis… is there another diagnosis?
     2. Are there more tests that could confirm the diagnosis and/or was the original test or imaging unclear?
     3. Have all my medical records been reevaluated as a full picture before zeroing in on the specific symptoms?
2. Second Opinions- Our competitive world has some small advantages, use it.
   1. A good physician or general internist will always promote second opinions, they may even give options as to whom to see.
   2. Second opinions could be researched for diagnostics or for procedure and future progress. Each step has its own focus. (This will bring you closer to the “No Mistake Zone”)
   3. Be in the know of the different methodologies. Communicating with a doctor on the other side of the fence always comes in handy.
3. The Internet- Using devices to become medically inclined without a medical background
   1. The internet is a good way to be taught the basics. There are support groups about most acute conditions. It will not only give a primitive landscape but can give you the opportunity to contact people across the country. Additionally, using the key word “diet …” or treatment guidelines…” lead you to evidence based techniques.
   2. NIH- National Institute of Health this exceptional website incorporates most research of disease procedure and prevention. It lists the primary doctors whom partook in the research and for how many people (there are more things to list too long for this work).
   3. Avoid pictures (images) and stick to facts and statistics.
   4. There are many places to post curiosity questions without pestering a doctor.
4. Final Plan- Making a decision that makes you feel as if you were in the “No Mistake Zone”
   1. Know precisely the name of the condition, and the gambit it covers.
   2. Being clear as to which procedure is urgent and which you have time to consider.
   3. Meet face to face with all doctors involved.
   4. Those doctors were clear to you of the risks and benefits of your options.
   5. When you visualize the process, your gut tells you this is the correct choice.
5. Prayer- Human actions are only half the process

A–allow for truth B-find the best C–clarify with tools you know well D-be determined E– speak to the One who executes results

Congratulations proceed with confidence