Guides
Getting more out of your care.
Practical, plain-language guides for your appointments, the people you care for, and everything in between.
Doctor visits.
What to bring, what to ask, and how to follow what you are told.
- How to prepare for a doctor's appointmentWhat to write down, what to bring, and how to open the visit so the reason you came does not get lost.7 min
- Questions to ask your doctorThe five questions that earn their place in almost any visit, and how to build a short list for yours.7 min
- How to ask your doctor to explain it plainlyThe exact words to use when you have stopped following, and how to check what you heard is right.6 min
- Medical words in plain EnglishPlain-English definitions for the words in your chart, your results, your bill, and the people in the room.9 min
- What to do after your appointmentHow to lock in the plan, track every open item, and chase results that never arrive after a visit.7 min
Caregiving.
Helping a parent, partner, or friend through their care.
- Bringing someone to your appointmentHow to choose who comes with you, give them a job, and use what they heard afterward.6 min
- Caregiver access to medical informationThe paperwork that lets you talk to their doctors, see records, and get portal access, and when to set it up.8 min
Managing your care.
Your records, several doctors, and a second opinion.
- How to get a copy of your medical recordsWhat you can ask for, how long it takes, what it can cost, and what to do if the office never answers.9 min
- Coordinating care across multiple doctorsHow to hold one complete picture of your care when several specialists each see only their own slice.7 min
- How to get a second opinionWhen a second opinion is worth it, how to ask for one, what it costs, and how to get your records there.7 min
Insurance and costs.
Medicare, coverage changes, and what to ask before you choose.
Alzheimer's and dementia.
Memory loss, a diagnosis, and caring for someone through it.
- How do I prepare for a doctor's appointment when my parent has dementia?The observation log, the word with the doctor beforehand, the best time to book, and what to pack when your parent has dementia.6 min
- Can I go into the exam room with a parent who has dementia?Who decides if you come in, getting time alone with the doctor, and keeping your parent at the center of the visit.6 min
Cancer.
From diagnosis through treatment, one appointment at a time.
- How do I keep family updated during cancer treatment without repeating myself?One update channel, one point person, what to share and what to keep private, and a template you can reuse after every appointment.5 min
- What should I bring to my first oncology appointment?Records to send ahead, what a long first visit looks like, who you may meet, and the two people to ask for by name.6 min
