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175 Jericho Tpke, Suite 212, Syosset
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• American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
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Health
Women’s Health Update
chronic condition, such as a lung-function test for those with asthma.
You also may be tested to diagnose or confirm the presence of a disease,
or to see how well a particular treatment or medication is working.
But if the wrong test is given, or if you fail to receive or understand
your results, your health may suffer. In a recent study of medical- testing
errors, researchers found that nearly three out of four patients
involved in a testing error had their treatment delayed, suffered additional
pain or had a worse health outcome as a result of the error.
Every time your doctor orders a test for you, the results become
part of your medical history and a potential guide or reference
for your future care. But many patients walk away from
their doctor’s office with important, unanswered questions:
• What tests will I take
• Why have these tests been ordered
• What will the tests show
• When should I expect to see the
results
• What should I do after the test
results are in
If you don’t understand the answers,
don’t be afraid to ask again, says Dennis
Novak, M.D., a general internist
and associate dean of medical education
at Drexel University College of
Medicine in Philadelphia. In the exam
room, you often get a lot of information
that might be hard to remember
later. Feel free to ask your doctor for
written information about the test, or
to recommend a website for more information,
Novak suggests.
There is one issue doctors rarely if
ever discuss: How much does the test
cost Before you agree to a test, put
Researchers found
that nearly three
out of four patients
involved in a
testing error had
their treatment
delayed, suffered
additional pain or
had a worse health
outcome as a
result of the
error.
on your “health-consumer” hat. Does your insurance cover the test
With or without insurance, what are your out-of-pocket costs
Once you’ve taken the test, follow-up is essential. And it’s one place
where mistakes happen often. For instance, in a recent study of California
primary-care doctors, about 20 percent of patients didn’t get
timely or appropriate notification of their abnormal test results.
The lesson Never accept that “no news is good news,” says Davis
Liu, M.D., a family physician in Sacramento, California. “Always request
to see your test results, good or bad.” You also should be sure
you know how you will be notified about the results, how long you
should wait for the results and who you should call to follow up after
receiving the results. ●
12 • LONG ISLAND WOMAN • September 2011 To advertise: 516-505-0555 x1 or ads@liwomanonline.com