Build Your Own Healthcare Team

When it comes to your health, it can take a team to take adequate care of it. Here’s what to consider when building your healthcare team to ensure that you receive a comprehensive range of care and support. 

Choosing your primary care and or specialist doctor is a critical step towards putting together your healthcare team as, oftentimes, this person is your central source of information regarding your diagnosis and or treatment options. It’s important to check that the doctor is licensed or legally allowed to practice medicine in your area. You can visit the website of a certifying board to learn more about what sort of knowledge is required to obtain a particular license. If you’re looking for a specialist doctor, your general doctor may be able to offer advice as to whom to call.

You may also find yourself working alongside a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who depending on region and specialization can also diagnose and or treat health conditions. Patients can find themselves working with some combination of doctors, nurse practitioners, and/or physician assistants. Aside from your main provider, it may also be helpful to recruit other members onto your team to allow for a wider and more comprehensive range of care and support. For instance, for conditions that are associated with impaired mobility, like multiple sclerosis, you may want to consider a physical therapist to provide you with advice and routine to optimize your quality of life through exercise and lifestyle changes. 

Undergoing diagnosis and treatment can take an emotional toll, impacting your general wellness. You can utilise neurological or mental health professionals to support you, as well as relying on family and friends for making important healthcare decisions, as well helping managing any symptoms, like chronic pain. 

Loved ones such as friends and family can also help you by helping you maintain a specific regimen or by helping you reach out to and or keeping in contact with healthcare providers in your area. The journey to optimize one’s health can be a daunting process, but having a healthcare team to guide you through individual steps and waves of that process can help to relieve much of the stress. 

Consider also utilising the peer-to-peer support provided by the Human Health Project. Talking to others with similar conditions to you, can not only provide emotional support, but can also inform your treatment plan and symptom management. 

Remember that you are never alone when it comes to your healthcare. Consult doctors, specialists, nurses, support groups and loved ones to form a team that can support you in your health journey.