Key Action Steps for Patients

1. Take responsibility for health and health care
2. Manage health through lifestyle choices, obtaining routine care and testing, complying with treatments, and active participation in disease management and prevention
3. Gather information on provider results and experience in medical conditions
4. Seek help and advice in interpreting information from physicians and the health plan
5. Utilize independent trustworthy medical information sources when needed. Beware of un-validated information posted on the internet.
6. Choose excellent providers based on reported results, not the closest provider or the past provider of unrelated care.  Insist providers provide their results with patients like you.
7. Choose cost-effective health plan structures involving deductibles together with HSAs to save for future health care needs
8. Seek a long-term relationship with a plan instead of plan churning
9. Communicate personal intentions regarding organ donation and end-of-life care
10. Designate a health care proxy and prepare a living will