POTSDAM -- February is Wise Health Consumer Month, and Canton-Potsdam Hospital medical professionals are providing tips and suggestions on how to become a little wiser when it comes to health care decisions.

“The primary goal is to teach people how to be more involved in their own health care,” said Dr. Timothy Atkinson, MD, CPH Hospitalist. “For example, a wise heath consumer knows the scope of practice between medical providers, including physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner (NP), and a medical physician (MD, DO). PAs and NPs are licensed, and often certified, to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive health care, and prescriptions under the supervision of a physician or surgeon,” said Atkinson.

“It’s equally important for patients to be comfortable enough with their medical provider to ask about his/her education, training, and supervising physician’s credentials,” said Atkinson.

More and more, physicians across the nation are welcoming PAs and NPs into their practices to help with routine patient visits, enabling the doctor to spend time with complex or specialty cases. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession of physician assistant is the third fastest-growing occupation in the country. Between 2002 and 2012, the government predicts the number of physician assistant jobs will have grown by 49 percent; the bureau estimates there were 63,000 PA jobs in 2002, with 94,000 to be filled in 2012.

“I believe wise consumers make health care decisions based on quality of care,” said Michael Joyce, CPH Hospitalist PA. “Hospitals are becoming more transparent when it comes to quality and safety, and wise consumers have this comparative data at their fingertips,” said Joyce. “In addition to selecting a provider of quality health care, I believe wise consumers are those who ask questions and take an active role in their own health care.”

According to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, in addition to getting to know their medical providers, wise health care consumers take the time to investigate which health insurance plans a medical provider accepts prior to making an appointment. In preparing for a visit, they keep a running list of questions to help get the most out of their time with the provider.

Equally important is making a list of current medications, dosage, and frequency of use, especially when seeing more than one medical provider over the course of a year. If questions arise during an exam, wise health consumers know to ask them immediately, especially if it relates to medications or prescriptions. Some medical exams or tests may be administered at the same time. Wise consumers ask if blood work or exams could be performed simultaneously, saving time and additional expense.

Being a wise health consumer extends into one’s home as well. Keeping a well stocked home pharmacy with frequently used items will come in handy and may even save a trip to see a medical provider. Understanding one’s health insurance plan and creating a fact sheet of quick coverage answers can benefit a wise consumer in a hurry. Having a reference sheet of health and safety agencies is a valuable resource for free information and support.

For more information on being a wise health consumer, visit the American Institute for Preventive Medicine website at www.healthylife.com.

For more information on health services available through Canton-Potsdam Hospital, visit www.cphospital.org.