| We feel very
strongly that patient education is an essential part of medical care. Many
digestive ailments may be either improved or worsened by one's own habits
and behavior. Understanding your body and your medical condition enables you
to take an active role in your own health, along with the guidance of your
physician. The physician's role as a teacher empowers the patient to deal with medical
conditions. The more you understand about your body and your condition, the more
you can be involved in getting better. Decisions about your health
and healthcare can then be mutual between you and your physician.
We have written a series of pamphlets entitled, "Things You Should
Know." These include a variety of topics that are relevant to our day to
day practice of gastroenterology and many reflect the instructions commonly
given to our patients.
These pamphlets are not intended to be all inclusive, nor are they a
substitute for consultation with a specialist. We share this information with
you to help you begin to understand your digestive problem.
We also highly recommend the National
Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a branch of
the National Institutes of Health, and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of
America.
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