:Page 16 www.sunnewspapers.net feelingfit.com The Sun /5LIrICI~1y F.eI:'i Lid' y 2~ -i


February is Wise Health Consumer Month


 Provided by
 BAYFRONT HEALTH

 Americans are enthusiastic
consumers. We spend a lot of time
researching and shopping, looking
for the best prices and value for our
money. But when it comes to our
health care, we often don't spend as
much time thinking about it as we
should. In fact, many people spend
more time researching a car mechan-
ic or a real estate agent than they do
their primary care doctor.
 February is Wise Health Care
Consumer Month and Bayfront
Health's Senior Extra program would
like to share tips for finding the right
doctor and making the most of your
medical appointments.
 *Maintain your health with regular
checkups. Regular health checkups
are important to prevent problems
from occurring, and can identify
conditions early when treatment is
most effective. By taking advantage
of your health care plan's preventive
health benefits, you're taking import-
ant steps to ensure a healthier life.
 Your primary care doctor is at the
center of your care, working collabo-
ratively with other health care pro-
viders to coordinate all your health
needs. So, it's important that you feel
comfortable with him or her.
 *Make sure you have a list of doc-
tors covered by your plan. You can
usually find this online through your
health insurance provider or you can
call them to find out how to obtain a
comprehensive listing.
 *Ask others for suggestions. Talk to
friends, neighbors and family mem-
bers and get their recommendations.
This gives you an opportunity to
learn about a doctor's manner and
how he or she interacts with patients.
Find out whether the doctor is
serious, lighthearted, patient, highly
empathetic or otherwise, and consid-
er whether he or she is someone you
can relate to.
 *Get the office basics. Find out how
many patients are scheduled each
hour, typical wait times, and how
payment is handled. Ask about hours,
whether they have other office loca-
tions, and who you should contact
during nonbusiness hours. Is there a
walk-in clinic or urgent care center
you should use?
 Are you seeking particular exper-
tise? If you have a particular health


problem, considei \hlietliei \:iu piefel
a primary caiie piovidei xIito, speciaIl-
izes in that aieai. sucli a diabetes ,1i
autoimmune diseasi e came.ie, 1 :1i-otliei
area of expel time
 *Learn about the doctor's affilia-
tions. Whicli Iiopittil i tHlie d,,ctri
affiliated witlit Is tlis ;i Iio ,pittil tlihit
convenient tto xlieie \,:i li\e: '\Vhio
will the doctor iefeitm \:,iu toI f:,i min\
special healtlih nieed-.s'
 "Now moic tliaii e\ei, people aie
getting movie mi\,kl\ed iii tlieii lieailtli
care, and tliat a,1 i iuitieguiail paiit rof
maintaining good lie,, ltli h ad Di
Thomas Noc:iine. clief medichil 'oficei
at Bayfront Heailtli B',it C liaii Itte aind
Punta Gordai
 "It's impoi taimi f:i patients tr ask
questions anid talk tr tlieii doctri',m
openly and lioiinetl\ -- g-,d lieailtli
is a partneisliip betreenii doctri aind
patient, so r it' i po im i tlrat p-itielir,
feel comfoi table witli tliei dioct, i -
 *Make the most of your appoint-
ment. Befoie v,; iii ie\t Vili tr rlie
doctor, take ,-,lme rimle to, piepaiie


-, \_-u cC;1 ii ike rlie It -, ,t -,ut i f
Vl iiiitr _,cmetneriime it', diffciult ,
iemeinbel qtuelii,_-,i -,1 details -, ice
V,-u'ie Im the officece s,0 making a list
bef,-ieliaiid c;iii help eiinuie \,-,Li dolii't
lea\e am\tlllmlg out Be piepaied tr:
 Desc ibe \,oiii s-minptmIns b\ e\-
plaiiing lien tlie\ staiited. klietliei
tlie\"'\e cliaiiged Slice tlie\ Iegaiin.
;iiid if ;il\ rlihll like tliheim o
;-I\;i\ If \V'\-uve expeieliced them
beftie. e\plaimi hen lie 1 'In ii aliit
ciiciim,taiice,
 Pio\-ide clih illugh ll lfoimatilo-,l
abiuti \oiui health sucli h ,- i edic-il
hlioi\ v\. illeigie miedich iiliiis \Voli
taike. daih hfe,t\ le liabits,. ;lid ;il\
lecemi cliii'ge iii \oliii life
 AA k qtenliie-i5n-l ;-ibontla dl-_g1o1i5 ;ild
tie-ti new m fl-iml -iti _-,lt \Vh;- tei te
;ie needed tr,, comlL in tlie dli:i11,-',1
HI-,x 1 ir ie-ited 1' tlieie ;i x;i\ to
pieveii it i t lie ftlitlie' \\-hii t iie
tlhe cwith t isoI;- iaied -ilih testil ;-ild
tie-itmewire'\\Vieie c;ii \Vo 'iilid inlOie

 Bui Ig_ ;-i mi ll iio itebl- ,k ;-IId m i -ike


 FILE PH,-.T-..
iinote if niieceaii\ If tlieies limited
litle. ia k r -peaik wili ai iuii e ,-i1
;_iN 1 i-Illi ; iftei the ipp-,inirneiir 1,
\ou ct i i Iwice dol 1ir the iifo,,i inlltioni
-itlihut feeling i .lied
 If \ou liaiae queIril,-,iio o-,ice \o-,u
get lihilne. call tle ,fhtce )Do't i feel
ell ;i i l;-is ed 01 ii LiI nOI fOiltable ;i-oIt
a-i llg q uesi,_-,l-SB -- Ulldelslai;-ldllg
\1ii C-i 'iidli' ilil -tildhe iiexiri teps ftie
iipo i-iiil., _'- ii;-ike tuie \o u get t lr e
;i-ii.nei \o Lui need
 The ke\ w-,: aealthining good heahth
ii tri take aui aictive io'le in V-iii lieilthli
taile See VOtl\ d,_-,t, liOli iegulai l\ hid
a4k ftle--iioi-i, foil,:,\\ Ins 01 Ihei ad-
\ice. aid tirlize the pieeiitie liealthli
les,_mc-,tle ai\allable to \ou Y,_,tl
hlealtlh i \ _-,tliii ,_-, \;iluable ass,et -
it de eives ;-I little exti;i tli le
 Remembiei thtlihliih ti ioiif lmilniiio
i ictIr itieiided t i- iepla.ice tle id\-ice
,-if \o- d-clt'ci. but iiatliei to iicieil e
;-i\;-iiele ;iid hlielp equip pairieiiri
wVlih iifo i iitol i fld tacilitite COi-
veil;il,-,io -l n ih Vo-,i phl\ CaU that
will beet \oli -,tlhealthh


 mnANI
Go to www.BoalingAidFishiiig.com to view
several years' wonrh of back issues for free
i p I M I iq I II I


GIVE THE GIFT
 OF BLOOD.


 I "at L, N .1 l ull
 SUN4W

I-^^^^


 MICHAEL R. MARKGRAF, .D.D.S. ,

General & Implant Dentistry
Former faculty member of Marquette University School of Dentistry J'.. +
 301 W. Olympia Ave., Punta Gorda 575-2273
 www.drmarkgraf.com


:Page 16


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