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Taking Charge: Making Your Healthcare Appointments Work for You
Discover how you can get more from your healthcare appointments.
This book is for you if:
- you often feel anxious or nervous before your healthcare appointments.
- you leave your healthcare appointments feeling frustrated.
- you leave your healthcare appointments with more questions than you went in with.
- you feel left out of the decisions being made about your treatment or overall care.
- you have trouble keeping track of all the changes in your care.
- you find that your appointments just aren’t long enough to answer all your questions and address all your concerns.
- you feel your care isn’t coordinated between all your healthcare professionals.
Whatever your reason, you can learn how to get more from your healthcare appointments.
While working as a Registered Nurse, I was diagnosed with a degenerative autoimmune disease. I have spent countless hours in and out of various healthcare appointments, and the one thing that helped me the most was my experience of sitting on both sides of the desk.
Just because you haven’t had that experience firsthand, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to make your healthcare appointments work for you, too.
Why this book?
- It will be the handbook you need for all your appointments, regardless of who you’re seeing.
- It’s presented in an easy-to-read format (no jargon.)
- You will discover what healthcare professionals expect from you.
- It will help you maximize your time at your appointments so you can get more done.
- It will help you bridge the gap in your doctor-patient relationship.
- It includes downloadable resources to give you a head-start.
Click “Buy Now” to discover how you can get more from your healthcare appointments.
This book is for you if:
- you often feel anxious or nervous before your healthcare appointments.
- you leave your healthcare appointments feeling frustrated.
- you leave your healthcare appointments with more questions than you went in with.
- you feel left out of the decisions being made about your treatment or overall care.
- you have trouble keeping track of all the changes in your care.
- you find that your appointments just aren’t long enough to answer all your questions and address all your concerns.
- you feel your care isn’t coordinated between all your healthcare professionals.
Whatever your reason, you can learn how to get more from your healthcare appointments.
While working as a Registered Nurse, I was diagnosed with a degenerative autoimmune disease. I have spent countless hours in and out of various healthcare appointments, and the one thing that helped me the most was my experience of sitting on both sides of the desk.
Just because you haven’t had that experience firsthand, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to make your healthcare appointments work for you, too.
Why this book?
- It will be the handbook you need for all your appointments, regardless of who you’re seeing.
- It’s presented in an easy-to-read format (no jargon.)
- You will discover what healthcare professionals expect from you.
- It will help you maximize your time at your appointments so you can get more done.
- It will help you bridge the gap in your doctor-patient relationship.
- It includes downloadable resources to give you a head-start.
Click “Buy Now” to discover how you can get more from your healthcare appointments.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2017
6 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Ricky White
3 books6 followersRicky White is an author based in Virginia, USA. Originally born in Leicester, England, Ricky qualified as a Registered (Adult) Nurse in February 2006. Later he went on to earn his post-graduate degree in Professional Nursing Practice. He worked in a variety of hospitals during his career before he was diagnosed with the chronic, degenerative disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis. Ricky now works as a patient advocate for those with Ankylosing Spondylitis, helping to raise much-needed awareness for his degenerative autoimmune disease.
Because of his unique position in experiencing both sides of the desk, having seen patients in his role as a pre-operative assessment clinic nurse, as well as being a patient himself, Ricky decided to write his debut book — Taking Charge: Making Your Healthcare Appointments Work for You. With the information in this book, Ricky arms other chronic illness sufferers with the tools they need to get the most of their appointments, and to get the care they deserve.
In October 2014, Ricky became a British expatriate when he moved to Virginia with his wife and children. At this point, Ricky sought to continue his propensity for overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated work by becoming a stay-at-home dad, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
When he is not chasing two under-5-year-olds, he is usual writing, coding, or in the dojo practicing Shaolin Kempo. He also has a mild-moderate addiction to Bonsai trees, of which he has a modest collection.
Ricky can be tracked down between diaper changes via his website – http://www.rickywhite.net/contact.php
Because of his unique position in experiencing both sides of the desk, having seen patients in his role as a pre-operative assessment clinic nurse, as well as being a patient himself, Ricky decided to write his debut book — Taking Charge: Making Your Healthcare Appointments Work for You. With the information in this book, Ricky arms other chronic illness sufferers with the tools they need to get the most of their appointments, and to get the care they deserve.
In October 2014, Ricky became a British expatriate when he moved to Virginia with his wife and children. At this point, Ricky sought to continue his propensity for overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated work by becoming a stay-at-home dad, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
When he is not chasing two under-5-year-olds, he is usual writing, coding, or in the dojo practicing Shaolin Kempo. He also has a mild-moderate addiction to Bonsai trees, of which he has a modest collection.
Ricky can be tracked down between diaper changes via his website – http://www.rickywhite.net/contact.php
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 7, 2017
This is a fantastic read for first-time patients who are new to chronic illness and who aren't sure how to best utilize their health care appointments. As someone who has been chronically ill for more than 20 years, I can attest that everything Ricky writes about in Taking Charge: Making Your Healthcare Appointments Work for You WILL help you to organize your health care appointments and get the most out of them.
His book is well laid-out and it is full of great tips and advice. There is a resource section at the back of his book for spreadsheets and other tips that you can make great use of. The resource section alone is worth buying this book.
I personally prefer to use a paid phone app now to track my appointments, medications, pain levels and other things, but prior to paying for this app, my health resource spreadsheets were very similar to what Ricky White has provided, and I promise you, they will be a wealth of information for your medical team and FOR YOU.
You will start to see patterns emerging with your health if you keep up with his resources for tracking what happens with your appointments and with your health.
The only reason I moved to a paid app is because I live in Taiwan and Taiwan has a universal health care system that is digitalized, which means my whole medical team (This includes my dentist!) can see prior appointments, doctor's notes, and they can add my app notes and recordings right into their database. (Cool, huh?)
I hope other countries follow suit with this system, but honestly, if you aren't using a phone app for the reason I mentioned above, you can't do any better than the resources Ricky has provided. I have my doctors print out a copy of all my tests and I file my notes the same way that Ricky suggests in his book. This means I am always well prepared and everything is in chronological order, which makes it easy for new doctors to understand.
Ricky's resources are fantastic and you will be amazed at what you learn from your own notes after you've been tracking your appointments for even a few months.
Another benefit to using Ricky's tips and resources is that these resources will provide you with a trail of paperwork that may assist you in the future should you need it, especially if you plan on filing for disability at some point. (You can never have enough paperwork and notes on record when it comes to this.)
When you add Ricky's experience as a nurse to his own story about having a chronic condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis), you really are seeing both sides of the story here, and that is why this book is so important. Ricky's writing is solid and easy to understand, so you don't need to worry about long and wordy medical passages that take time to decipher.
Buy this book. Read it. Use Ricky White's resources. You will not regret it.
5 stars, Mr. White. Bravo!
His book is well laid-out and it is full of great tips and advice. There is a resource section at the back of his book for spreadsheets and other tips that you can make great use of. The resource section alone is worth buying this book.
I personally prefer to use a paid phone app now to track my appointments, medications, pain levels and other things, but prior to paying for this app, my health resource spreadsheets were very similar to what Ricky White has provided, and I promise you, they will be a wealth of information for your medical team and FOR YOU.
You will start to see patterns emerging with your health if you keep up with his resources for tracking what happens with your appointments and with your health.
The only reason I moved to a paid app is because I live in Taiwan and Taiwan has a universal health care system that is digitalized, which means my whole medical team (This includes my dentist!) can see prior appointments, doctor's notes, and they can add my app notes and recordings right into their database. (Cool, huh?)
I hope other countries follow suit with this system, but honestly, if you aren't using a phone app for the reason I mentioned above, you can't do any better than the resources Ricky has provided. I have my doctors print out a copy of all my tests and I file my notes the same way that Ricky suggests in his book. This means I am always well prepared and everything is in chronological order, which makes it easy for new doctors to understand.
Ricky's resources are fantastic and you will be amazed at what you learn from your own notes after you've been tracking your appointments for even a few months.
Another benefit to using Ricky's tips and resources is that these resources will provide you with a trail of paperwork that may assist you in the future should you need it, especially if you plan on filing for disability at some point. (You can never have enough paperwork and notes on record when it comes to this.)
When you add Ricky's experience as a nurse to his own story about having a chronic condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis), you really are seeing both sides of the story here, and that is why this book is so important. Ricky's writing is solid and easy to understand, so you don't need to worry about long and wordy medical passages that take time to decipher.
Buy this book. Read it. Use Ricky White's resources. You will not regret it.
5 stars, Mr. White. Bravo!
January 14, 2017
Ricky White has hit on a subject that practically affects all of us at some time or other. Have you ever attended any type of healthcare appointment (GP, Consultant, Physiotherapist, nurse etc.) and felt so nervous that you forget to mention what you really want to talk about or even worse you end up saying that you are okay and fine when you're not and walk out feeling like the appointment was a waste of time? Yes...I hear you thinking…well this book is for you.
It's a nifty ‘handbook’ split into sections relating to your healthcare visit in order, so preparation, pre-visit, appointment itself and afterwards. It's very easy to read and if you're like me and have a long term medical condition and frequently attend healthcare appointments you will be thinking yes that sounds just like me as you read it!
Very importantly it’s not patronising, the author Ricky White has a painful long term medical condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis) and has also worked as a nurse in the NHS in the UK, so very unusually he can see both sides and this gives him a unique perspective.
‘Taking Charge’ also has a wealth of useful resources in it, the author has put together web links to useful forms and checklists that you can use yourself to prepare yourself and get the best out of your time with your GP or Consultant.
Overall a magnificent and incredibly useful handbook which I know I will be going back to time and time again. I found the anecdotes, the preparation tips and do’s and don'ts while in your appointment profoundly inspiring, it's made me realise I have very rarely used my small amount of valuable time with medical professionals wisely. After all it's about our health and our care – should we not prepare and go into the appointment planned and ready to discuss what really matters, instead of feeling scared, nervous and never actually getting to the point?
Highly recommended read for now and for the future.
It's a nifty ‘handbook’ split into sections relating to your healthcare visit in order, so preparation, pre-visit, appointment itself and afterwards. It's very easy to read and if you're like me and have a long term medical condition and frequently attend healthcare appointments you will be thinking yes that sounds just like me as you read it!
Very importantly it’s not patronising, the author Ricky White has a painful long term medical condition (Ankylosing Spondylitis) and has also worked as a nurse in the NHS in the UK, so very unusually he can see both sides and this gives him a unique perspective.
‘Taking Charge’ also has a wealth of useful resources in it, the author has put together web links to useful forms and checklists that you can use yourself to prepare yourself and get the best out of your time with your GP or Consultant.
Overall a magnificent and incredibly useful handbook which I know I will be going back to time and time again. I found the anecdotes, the preparation tips and do’s and don'ts while in your appointment profoundly inspiring, it's made me realise I have very rarely used my small amount of valuable time with medical professionals wisely. After all it's about our health and our care – should we not prepare and go into the appointment planned and ready to discuss what really matters, instead of feeling scared, nervous and never actually getting to the point?
Highly recommended read for now and for the future.
January 15, 2017
I read the book pretty much in one sitting. I have lived with people with chronic illness almost my entire life and have seen the struggles. There are struggles beyond the illness. Doctor's appointments can stress anyone out.
Ricky White does a great job explaining how to manage your appointments and get the most out of your appointment.
He writes in plain speak without burying you with medical jargon.
Give the book a read.
Ricky White does a great job explaining how to manage your appointments and get the most out of your appointment.
He writes in plain speak without burying you with medical jargon.
Give the book a read.
August 11, 2025
A doctor’s appointment can be a moment where health concerns are discussed, symptoms are explored, and possible preventive steps are suggested. There is a chance that this meeting with the healthcare professional could lead to early detection of issues or recommendations that might improve overall well-being. For those considering public healthcare services, arranging an iess cita medica could potentially provide access to specialized attention and organized follow-up care. Sometimes, even the possibility of gaining new health insights makes scheduling worthwhile.
June 23, 2017
Doctors visits made easier
I gave this book the highest rating because it is very useful for everyone, not just the chronically ill. Even if you utilize some of the suggestions already there is something new to learn.
I also enjoyed the humor and honesty of the author. He is willing to share his own journey so you understand he isn't just giving lip service to his suggestions.
I gave this book the highest rating because it is very useful for everyone, not just the chronically ill. Even if you utilize some of the suggestions already there is something new to learn.
I also enjoyed the humor and honesty of the author. He is willing to share his own journey so you understand he isn't just giving lip service to his suggestions.
March 5, 2017
Brilliant book
Brilliant book full of useful information and pointers for your medical appointments. Well done Ricky by a fellow AS sufferer.
Brilliant book full of useful information and pointers for your medical appointments. Well done Ricky by a fellow AS sufferer.
October 25, 2017
Excellent resource. Well-written with warmth and humor. I've already put some of the advice into action with good effect. Thank you.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews