Patient Empowerment 101: More than a book, it's an adventure!

Hi! I'm Ann, a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 30 years of direct patient care experience! I'm not your doctor, so don't think of me as Dr. Hester. Instead, think of me as Ann, an old friend who happens to be a doctor. In my book, I share a tremendous amount of practical, actionable tips on optimizing your healthcare and even cutting your healthcare costs! You want to know what you'll learn by reading this book, right? Below I'll give you a basic overview, but the reality of what you will take away is far more profound. You'll learn: How to optimize each medical encounter to get the most out of every visit Specific questions doctors want to know about common symptoms How to expedite your own diagnosis and minimize unnecessary tests and procedures Tips on choosing the right doctor How to unravel the health insurance maze and understand what you are getting How easy it is to develop a personal copy of health records Ways to stay safe in the hospital How technology can help improve your health Why having an advocate in your care is invaluable Common medical tests and terms your doctor may use to explain your results Frequently used medical abbreviations Glossary of common medical terms and a pronunciation key for difficult words Access to pages of this website which provide: Self-assessment quizzes to reinforce your knowledge Brief videos with life-like characters that provide empowerment tips Downloadable, fillable Word files to: build your personal medical record clarify what you should look for when you develop 11 common symptoms