No. 1: Collect

Collect as much information as you can about the injury or illness facing you. How long have you had the problem? How much pain are you in? How did it happen? Has it happened before? What did you do then? Did it work? Do you have any books or brochures that tell you about possible treatments? Accurate and complete information about your injury or illness is necessary to develop a treatment plan that is safe and effective. These are the same questions your health care professional might ask you. It’s important to know the answers. Your treatment is often based on what you can tell the doctor about your condition

No. 2: Create

Create a treatment plan. You might be comfortable using a home treatment such as ice packs for a sprain or strain and warm salt water for a sore throat. You might want to get a “second opinion” by calling your doctor, nurse or physician’s assistant on the phone and letting them know what you plan to do. If you decide to make a trip to see your doctor, make sure you take an active role in developing the treatment plan.

No. 3: Comply

Comply with the treatment plan and see if the illness or injury gets better. “Watching and waiting” is sometimes the best medicine. Whether following a treatment plan developed with the help of a medical professional or one your created alone, you are responsible for sticking to the plan and monitoring the condition for improvement.

This information provided by

Soldotna Medical Clinic