Getting health care
health; rights; responsibilities; confidentiality; adolescent; young; people; Medicare; tobacco; drug; alcohol;
Contents
We all need to take responsibility for our own health care. Only it's not always easy to find the right health professional, we don't always know our rights and responsibilities, the medical language can be hard to understand and some health professionals can get so busy that they sometimes come across as a little abrupt, even kind of scary.
In this topic we give guidelines for you to find the most appropriate health care for yourself, your rights and responsibilities when you use a health service and standing up for your rights.
We refer to health rights and responsibilities as set out in South Australia, however many of these may apply in other places.
What is health care?
Health isn't just about not being sick. It's about a balanced lifestyle that keeps you feeling OK. This includes:
- your physical health (things like nutrition and exercise and avoiding tobacco, drug and alcohol use)
- your social health (things like family life and relationships)
- your emotional well-being (your feelings)
- your environment (where you live, go to school or work)
All of these things are important to your health.
Because health care covers so many aspects of your life, health care professionals come from many different backgrounds such as medicine, physiotherapy, nursing, community work, nutrition, psychology, teaching and social work. These different backgrounds mean that health professionals can support you with many different aspects of your health. Often health professionals from different backgrounds work together as a team.
Choosing a health care professional
You have the right to make choices about the health professional you prefer to see (see your rights and responsibilities below).
Different health care professionals have different roles and knowledge which will also help you make the decision, for example
- a doctor or nurse would treat medical conditions,
- a social worker may help with social or practical problems that are affecting your health, such as housing or financial issues,
- a community health worker might run a community group on stress and relaxation
- a physiotherapist could help with sporting injuries.
When choosing a health service or doctor a good way to start is to ask friends or family whom they trust and feel comfortable with - try those services and see how you feel. When you use the service, think about your rights in a health service (below) and whether they are being met.
Medicare cards in Australia
In Australia, if the health care professional you are seeing is a doctor, you'll need a Medicare card for the Government to pay some of the bill. If you don't have your card with you and don't know the number, the doctor can phone Medicare to get the number.
Some doctors only charge you for the part of the bill that the government pays back- this is called bulk billing and this means you won't have to pay for the appointment. Ask when you make your appointment if the doctor bulk bills. With some doctors there will be a 'gap' fee which you will need to pay.
You can apply for your own Medicare Card at the age of 15, but you can remain on your parent's card. Under 15 you are still on your parent's Medicare card. To apply for your card simply phone or go into your nearest Medicare office listed in your local telephone book.
Other hints
You might want to write questions down before you go to see a health care professional and take your questions with you so that you remember everything you wanted to say or to ask. You can take a pen and paper in with you to write the answers down and remember them all.
Once you've found the health service or professional that is right for you, try to keep going to the same health professional when possible so that your health record is in one place and they know your health history thoroughly. This can be especially helpful for on-going health issues, such as asthma, where a management plan is a good idea. This will help ensure you get good quality care.
Your health rights
We all have rights and responsibilities in our lives. But if no-one's ever told us what our rights are we can't assert our rights. Likewise if our responsibilities aren't clear, we can't carry them out. You mightn't be aware of your health rights and responsibilities simply because no one has ever told you before. It's important to be aware of these rights so that you can make sure you get quality health service. Our health rights and responsibilities have been put down in writing by the South Australian Department of Health to ensure that we get quality health service. This booklet is available from health services and the South Australian Department of Health. Check if there is something similar where you live.
In South Australia you have the right:
- to confidentiality - there may be limits to confidentiality especially if this involves your safety- ask your health care professional about this
- to see your government health records - for a private health professional, eg your family doctor, this is different - you can certainly ask to see your health record but showing you the record will be the doctor's decision
- to choose a health care professional who you trust, feel comfortable with and can talk to openly, who respects your opinions, listens to you and answers your questions
- to ask for a male or a female health care professional - remembering that there may not be a worker of the sex you request available
- to change your health care professional
- to ask for a second opinion
- to be included in the planning of your own health care
- to know how any suggested treatment works and what will happen
- to be given up to date, accurate information
- to be given information in language you understand - not in medical jargon! (it's your responsibility to ask for clearer language if the worker is using words you don't understand)
- to ask for information in your own language or to ask for an interpreter - ask for an interpreter when you make the appointment
- to ask for more information
- to ask for important information to be written down for you to take home as a reminder
- to ask for choices and options
- to say what you think
- to say "no"
- to stop any treatment, but this may have a bad effect on your health
- to change your mind
- to have a friend or family member with you at appointments if you want
- to have all the information and support you need to make your own decisions.
Note: If you are under 16, a doctor may need to ask for parental consent or for you to talk to another doctor before treating you. The doctor should discuss this with you first.
The role of a health care professional is to provide you with:
- information
- education
- treatment
- support.
At times you may need to make others aware of your rights. The way that usually works best is to do this in an assertive way. Being aggressive, eg screaming, shouting or insulting people, is not an effective way to remind people of your rights. Allowing people to ignore your rights isn't effective either. If you want to know more about strategies for making sure your needs are met check our page on 'Assertiveness'.
Along with your rights come some responsibilities. In order to get a quality service you should:
- tell your health care professional anything you can think of that could be linked to your health worry, including the ues of any medications or drugs
- follow whatever plan or treatment you've agreed on with your health care professional - if you stop or change the plan, let the health care professional know
- ask for clearer information if you didn't understand or if the health care professional is using jargon
- be respectful to staff.
Remember we're talking about your health and that is important!
Complaints/comments
If you believe that a health care professional is doing the wrong thing by you, discuss this with the health care professional if you feel OK with this. If you don't feel OK about talking to the health worker but you still want to do something about it, ask to speak to the manager or supervisor. You can do this by appointment, telephone or in writing if it's easier.
Of course, you may also want to make a comment to a manager or a health care professional if you believe a health care professional has been helpful.
If you want to make a formal complaint, the person who answers the telephone at the service you've been to should be able to give you information about how to formally complain.
Other options in South Australia are to:
- contact the Chief Executive Officer of the health service or health unit (in the public health system)
- contact the Medical or Dental or other Registration Board of South Australia
- get legal advice
- contact the Ombudsman.
Resources
South Australia
- The Second Story Youth Health Service (TSS)
- Central: 57 Hyde St, Adelaide
- South: 50a Beach Rd, Christies Beach
- North: 6 Gillingham Rd, Elizabeth
Contact TSS via the Youth Health line on 1300 13 17 19,
or for mobile phone callers (08) 8303 1691, normal rates apply.
- South Australian Department of Health (08) 8226 6000 (for information on health rights).
- Medical Board of South Australia (08) 8219 9800 (complaints/information).
- State Ombudsman (08) 8226 8699 or 1800 182 150 (complaints).
- Medicare Enquiries Line 13 20 11 (Medicare card information).
Consumer's Health Forum of Australia Inc.
http://www.chf.org.au/
Department of Health (South Australia) 'Your Rights and Responsibilities'
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).