It’s your choice to be on health-care “team”
By Herb Drill
WASHINGTON – The Council on Family Health (CFH) has joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) to urge more dialogue through a booklet entitled Be An Active Member of Your Health Care Team.
The booklet aims to help consumers make informed choices concerning medicines. FDA and CFH want people to take a more active role in their health care, especially when it comes to using medicines.
CFH is a non-profit organization established more than 35 years ago to educate consumers regarding the proper use of non-prescription and prescription medicines and dietary supplements, home safety, and personal health. Health Care Team, developed by FDA in cooperation with CFH, has information which can help readers make informed choices of medicines and urges communication between patients and their health-care professionals.
"Doctors, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, and you make up your health-care team," said acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford. "To get the most benefit and to reduce the risks when using medicines, you need to be an active member of the team."
The booklet outlines five ways to make medicine use safer:
· Speak up .
· Ask questions.
· Find the facts.
· Evaluate the choices.
· Read the label and follow directions.
As part of HHS' and FDA's continuing efforts to develop user-friendly health education materials for Latino Americans, Health Care Team is available in Spanish as part of CFH’s effort to make important health messages available to a broader audience.
"The more information your health-care team knows about you, the better you and your team can plan the care that's right for you," said Robert G.
Donovan, CFH president. He adds: "Tell your health-care team about the medicines you use and about your medical history. It’s important to get as much information as you can about your medicines and to read the label each time you buy an OTC medicine, or fill your prescription. When buying an OTC, read the `Drug Facts label carefully to make sure it’s the right medicine for you."
The booklet also includes a "Question Guide" which can be used with your health-care team to find out what you need to know about the medicines you already use, or are thinking about using.
To get a free copy of the booklet, e-mail dpapubs@cder.fda.gov, or call 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332), follow prompts 2-1-3-3, and request Be An Active Member of Your Health Care Team. Specify English or Spanish. To request a copy by mail, or to view the guide online, go to www.cfhinfo.org.
Herb Drill is the principal of Able Me & Associates!, Jacksonville, FL-based marketing consultants to the overlooked disabled community. He writes and edits www.notaccessible.com and is a charter member of the now international Society of American Business Editors and Writers. His e-mail address is herbertdrill@cs.com, or herbdrill@notaccessible.com.