How to Help Your Doctor Help You: A Patient/Patient Advocate's Guide to Better Health Care
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 54
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2026
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Please let me start by explaining that I am not a medical doctor, I am a scientist with a PhD in reproductive physiology. I am writing this guide as a long-time patient advocate, for family and friends, and as a patient myself, with the extra benefit of knowledge that my education and work has afforded me. Over the many years of experience with the healthcare system, I have made numerous observations and gathered a great deal of information that God has called on my heart to share.
I have watched as our health care system has changed from a family physician who knew their patients on a personal level to a much larger, resource and time deficient system where there is little personal knowledge of the patients. This does not mean that the physicians and staff are not good at their jobs or do not care, but rather that they do not have the luxury of time to get to know their patients and are limited by the information they have available to them to help you with your care. As such, the burden falls more on the patients themselves and their advocates to help the doctors provide you with the best care. I have written this book so you know what you can do to “Help Your Doctor Help You”.
In How to Help Your Doctor Help You: A Patient/Patient Advocate's Guide to Better Health Care, I hope to share some information that I have found helpful and that I hope can help you in obtaining the best healthcare. I will also shares some anecdotes along the way on why I found this information to be so important. These are stories from my own experiences or those of people I know. Names have been left out or changed to protect the privacy of all involved.
Introduction
Be an Active Participant in Your Own Healthcare
Medications
Follow Directions
Communication
Truth or Consequences
Family Medical History
Learn About Your Medical Conditions
Never, Never, Never Self-Diagnose
Other Things You Need to Know
Blood Type
Medication, Food, and Contact Allergies
Surgeries, Significant Medical Events, Medical Conditions
Immunizations and Vaccines
Social History
Healthcare in the Age of Technology
Medical Information
Telemedicine
New and Emerging Technologies
Robotics
Wearable Technologies
Genetic Testing
Patient Advocates
What is an Advocate and Why You Should Have One
What is I am an Advocate?
Advocates as a Service
Preparing for Your Doctor’s Visits
Must Haves for Every Visit
Pack Your Patience
Develop a Habit of Asking About Medications You are Receiving
Preparing for Surgeries and Hospital Stays
The Part Nobody Wants to Talk About
Putting Together Your Own Medical Record
Let’s Get Started
Identifying Information
Medical History
Blood Type
Allergies
Current/Relevant Medical Information
List of Medications
Surgeries
Major Hospitalizations and Injuries
Social History
Family History
List of Physicians/Healthcare Providers
Example Medical Record
Conclusion
Dr. Dustie Johnson was born and raised in Midland, Texas, where she still resides. She has both a Masters and Doctorate in Reproductive Physiology and is an applied scientist at heart. Her research has led to a US patent as well as several international patents. She has presented at many national and international conferences, and she has authored a number of publications in well-respected scientific journals. Dr. Johnson has a very strong medical and scientific background which included teaching Anatomy and Physiology, Reproductive Physiology, and Animal Science as well as serving as Medical/Science Liaison and Consultant in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Business World for nearly 30 years.
Dustie has had the amazing privilege to be a long-time patient advocate for family and friends and has been a patient more than a few times herself. This, along with her unique work experience, has afforded her the opportunity to gather a great deal of knowledge and information. She has a passion for sharing this knowledge and has the philosophy “what good is knowledge if it is not shared”. The calling to share this knowledge is what led her to write the book that you have just read.
Please let me start by explaining that I am not a medical doctor, I am a scientist with a PhD in reproductive physiology. I am writing this guide as a long-time patient advocate, for family and friends, and as a patient myself, with the extra benefit of knowledge that my education and work has afforded me. Over the many years of experience with the healthcare system, I have made numerous observations and gathered a great deal of information that God has called on my heart to share.
I have watched as our health care system has changed from a family physician who knew their patients on a personal level to a much larger, resource and time deficient system where there is little personal knowledge of the patients. This does not mean that the physicians and staff are not good at their jobs or do not care, but rather that they do not have the luxury of time to get to know their patients and are limited by the information they have available to them to help you with your care. As such, the burden falls more on the patients themselves and their advocates to help the doctors provide you with the best care. I have written this book so you know what you can do to “Help Your Doctor Help You”.
In How to Help Your Doctor Help You: A Patient/Patient Advocate's Guide to Better Health Care, I hope to share some information that I have found helpful and that I hope can help you in obtaining the best healthcare. I will also shares some anecdotes along the way on why I found this information to be so important. These are stories from my own experiences or those of people I know. Names have been left out or changed to protect the privacy of all involved.
Introduction
Be an Active Participant in Your Own Healthcare
Medications
Follow Directions
Communication
Truth or Consequences
Family Medical History
Learn About Your Medical Conditions
Never, Never, Never Self-Diagnose
Other Things You Need to Know
Blood Type
Medication, Food, and Contact Allergies
Surgeries, Significant Medical Events, Medical Conditions
Immunizations and Vaccines
Social History
Healthcare in the Age of Technology
Medical Information
Telemedicine
New and Emerging Technologies
Robotics
Wearable Technologies
Genetic Testing
Patient Advocates
What is an Advocate and Why You Should Have One
What is I am an Advocate?
Advocates as a Service
Preparing for Your Doctor’s Visits
Must Haves for Every Visit
Pack Your Patience
Develop a Habit of Asking About Medications You are Receiving
Preparing for Surgeries and Hospital Stays
The Part Nobody Wants to Talk About
Putting Together Your Own Medical Record
Let’s Get Started
Identifying Information
Medical History
Blood Type
Allergies
Current/Relevant Medical Information
List of Medications
Surgeries
Major Hospitalizations and Injuries
Social History
Family History
List of Physicians/Healthcare Providers
Example Medical Record
Conclusion
Dr. Dustie Johnson was born and raised in Midland, Texas, where she still resides. She has both a Masters and Doctorate in Reproductive Physiology and is an applied scientist at heart. Her research has led to a US patent as well as several international patents. She has presented at many national and international conferences, and she has authored a number of publications in well-respected scientific journals. Dr. Johnson has a very strong medical and scientific background which included teaching Anatomy and Physiology, Reproductive Physiology, and Animal Science as well as serving as Medical/Science Liaison and Consultant in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Business World for nearly 30 years.
Dustie has had the amazing privilege to be a long-time patient advocate for family and friends and has been a patient more than a few times herself. This, along with her unique work experience, has afforded her the opportunity to gather a great deal of knowledge and information. She has a passion for sharing this knowledge and has the philosophy “what good is knowledge if it is not shared”. The calling to share this knowledge is what led her to write the book that you have just read.