THE TAKE CHARGE PATIENT is part autobiography and part self
help book. As a mother to two children with congenital
heart defects who have three heart surgeries apiece,
several cardiac catherizations and too many procedures to
count, and as a registered nurse I found this book amazing.
I wish I had it twenty-two years ago when my first son was
born. The author, Martine Ehrenclou a non-medical
professional began writing this book from the perspective
of someone caring for ailing family members and saw
firsthand the mistakes and misdiagnosis that can happen in
the medical world. Then six months into the book the
subject took on a personal nature.
THE TAKE CHARGE PATIENT is written so that any layperson can
read and
understand it. The book is broken down into steps to guide
you through what you need to do to become an advocate
either for someone else or yourself. THE TAKE CHARGE PATIENT
begins with
information to help you learn about how to find a primary
care doctor (PCP) who will function as a team leader for
your care. I found it interesting that the author also
teaches how to have relationships with all the people in
the PCP's office. She is accurate in saying that the staff
is the
gatekeeper to your care and each hold a significant role
but I never would have thought to suggest it.
The book continues from your PCP to specialists,
pharmacies, hospitals and your insurance company. There are
two whole chapters on how to ensure you don't become a
statistic of medication or medical errors. There are
chapters on the difference between chronic and acute
illnesses and how to manage your care for each. There are
also chapters to about prevention. They explain how to prevent
illness from occurring and how to use
Telehealth/Telemedicine (being monitored from home by your
medical professionals) to prevent chronic conditions being
exacerbated, or developing secondary complications.
Each chapter ends with a checklist and the book closes with
a list of definitions, references, and resources. I
personally believe THE TAKE CHARGE PATIENT should be in
every household
nationwide. It is the best guidebook I have seen on the
market to this date and I will be purchasing several copies
for my loved ones.
The Take-Charge Patient Puts the Expertise of 200 Medical
Professionals in Your Hands
Frustrated or confused about how to get good medical care?
In her newest book, The Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get
The Best Medical Care, (Lemon Grove Press, on sale May 15,
2012) award-winning author and patient advocate, Martine
Ehrenclou, empowers patients to become proactive, well
informed participants in their own care. With advice and
personal stories from over 200 doctors, nurses, pharmacists,
health psychologists, patients and more, The Take-Charge
Patient reveals insider information on how to cut through
the red tape and navigate today’s complex health care system
with confidence.
Ehrenclou empowers readers with vital information on how to
find the right doctor, how to communicate effectively with
doctors, how to prepare for medical appointments, prevent
medical errors and medication mistakes, obtain discounted
medication, manage your health insurance, and much more. The
Take-Charge Patient will forever change how you act as a
patient and thereby vastly improve the quality of the
medical care you receive.
Six months into her research for The Take-Charge Patient,
Martine Ehrenclou developed debilitating, chronic pain and
used every strategy in her new book. She went from author
and advocate for others to an advocate for herself and
became a take-charge patient. After eleven doctors failed to
diagnose her correctly, Martine found her own diagnosis and
the correct surgeon to treat her. She is now pain free.
According to Ehrenclou, your health care is a team sport.
The Take-Charge Patient shows you how to take charge of what
you can and become an effective player.
Martine Ehrenclou has also written the multiple
award-winning Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital.
Guide to Get Your Loved One Out Alive (Lemon Grove Press).
Ehrenclou writes monthly articles for several health
websites, national magazines, and is interviewed regularly
on national TV and radio such as ABC News, ABC World News,
Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Los Angeles Times Magazine,
Publishers Weekly, and many more. She frequently lectures on
how to be an advocate for yourself and your loved ones at
universities, hospitals and various organizations.
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