Your Choices...Your Health Get Involved in Your Care Your health and safety are your health professional’s first priority. In every setting — your doctor's office, local medical centre, the hospital, and long-term care facilities — we work hard to ensure that you receive the highest quality of care possible. Everyone has a role in making health care safe: general practitioners, nurses, technicians, and administrators. It is also important for you to be an involved member of your health care team. Here are some things you can do to actively participate in your care: Be prepared Get informed Get an advocate Speak up if you are unsure Know your medications Become a member of your local primary health organisation's (PHOs) governing body Be prepared When you meet with your doctor or nurse or other member of your health care team: provide a full medical history, and describe any symptoms or health concerns you might have make a list of the questions you want to ask, and write down the answers you are given. Get informed If you are receiving ongoing treatment, ask your doctor or nurse: to describe what will be done during each step of your care, and make sure you are in agreement with the course of treatment how long your treatment will last, what symptoms you might experience, and what other health care providers will be involved in your treatment plan. Back to top Get an advocate If you feel uncertain or nervous about your treatment plan: ask a trusted family member or friend to accompany you when you meet to talk to your doctor or nurse your family member or friend can ask questions that you may not think of or remember, and can help take notes share key facts about your condition and care with your family member or friend so he or she can be supportive and help you when needed. Speak up if you are unsure If you don't understand something: don't hesitate to speak up if something doesn't seem right if you think you are receiving the wrong treatment or medication, ask your health care provider to double check ask about follow-up care and make sure you or your advocate understand all the instructions. Back to top Know your medications Keep a list in your wallet of your medications and the times you take them. When you receive a prescription for a new medication, tell your health care team about any allergies you have or any negative reactions you have had to medications. If your doctor or nurse gives you a medication or prescription that you do not recognise, ask him or her to make sure that it is correct. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to describe the purpose and possible side effects of the medications that are prescribed for you. Ask for information about the medication in writing, and request that both the brand name and the generic name of the medication be included. If you are taking several medications, ask your health care team if it is safe to take the medications together. This should include any vitamins, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter drugs. Back to top Become a member of your local primary health organisation's (PHOs) governing body If you are interested in being a member of your local primary health organisation’s (PHOs) governing body contact your District Health Board (DHB) or PHO to find out how to offer your services. Each PHO has a constitution which usually sets out the process for appointing board members. Boards should have succession plans and when a vacancy arises, the board should consider the skills and attributes needed in the new member that will complement the rest of the board. Appointment of board members should be open and transparent and focus on creating a diverse and effective board. Board member appointment processes vary widely between primary health organisations, reflecting the legal and constitutional arrangements of the particular primary health organisation. In all cases, though, there are a set of standard governance expectations of board members laid out in the DHB/PHO Service Agreement. These are covered in greater detail in the Governance Guide for Primary Health Organisations available in hard copy from PHOs and on the Ministry website: Governance Guide for Primary Health Organisations. Back to top Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this page. Page last updated: 10 October 2007

Find Your... Primary Health Organisation District Health Board Find A... Disability Service Provider Māori Health Provider Mental Health Provider Find Information On... Medical conditions and the latest drugs and treatments available