Question of the month: As a patient, why should I be doing tasks that my doctor would otherwise do for me?

Not long ago, general practitioners would store your patient data for you at their practice. Until quite recently, GPs used to store your patient data at their practice for you. It is important that the medical professional coordinating your treatment has access to all the relevant information on your case. This is the only way to guarantee that your treatment is of a high quality and also safe.

Nowadays, however, as a patient, people find it more and more difficult to get through to my GP, let alone to consult him or her. The phones at the practices never stop ringing, so it's virtually impossible to reach anyone. In response, doctors’ surgeries are increasingly cutting back on the hours they can be contacted over phone, making it even more difficult for patients to reach someone at a GP practice. If you are lucky enough to get someone on the phone, you have to wait a long time for an appointment, depending on the severity of the problem, because the practice is so busy. Unfortunately that is not the end of it. In some regions, the number of GPs will be below what is needed in the years ahead. Meaning that access may no longer be guaranteed at all. It is precisely these challenges that make it worth using the Compassana Patient app.

So now you have a medical concern and are unable to reach your GP. What do you do if you can't reach anyone? What do you do if your GP is away or you need urgent help outside of normal surgery hours?

You are probably thinking about what other options you have. There are several options you can choose from, depending on your insurance coverage. The Compassana insurance guide* will help you to understand what options you can choose from. It will show you if you can avail yourself of telemedicine, a pharmacy or another alternative option. Once you have settled on an option, the real fun begins. It is highly unlikely that the specialists you have contacted have any information on you or your medical history. However, this is the basis for treatment that is safe and of a high quality. And it also ensures that patients do not have to undergo unnecessary or repeated examinations.

The Compassana patient app allows you to store your list of medications and your most important reports. And share them with new specialists. This is how, as a patient, you can do your part in ensuring that you get good medical care. Why not start today? 

1. Scan your medication and complete your list of medications, then update it every time you see a doctor.
2. Save your current reports and your most recent hospital discharge report in the app. You do not need to save your entire medical history on it.
3. Use the app to share your list of medications and current reports with your health care professionals.

This means that you are well prepared for any medical situation and have done what you can to ensure you receive safe, high-quality treatment.

*You can access your personal insurance guide using your SSO login from Groupe Mutuel, SWICA or Helsana.