Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico | Blue for Your Health | Summer 2021

bcbsnm.com/community-centennial 7 Y OU R P R I MA R Y C A R E P R O V I D E R Caring for the whole you Your primary care provider’s (PCP’s) goal is to treat you as a whole person, not just your disease. That means your PCP is trained—and ready—to help you with behavioral health issues. For instance, if you have diabetes, your PCP will do more than check your blood sugar and watch for complications. Your PCP can also help you cope with the emotional challenges of living with diabetes. Likewise, if you’re a smoker with a lung disease, your PCP can help you overcome the emotional and physical challenges of quitting. Whatever behavioral health problems you might face, your PCP can either help you di- rectly or refer you to an appropriate professional or program. Reach out Because your emotions can affect your health— and how you take care of yourself—your PCP is a crucial source of support if you are struggling with things like: ■ The loss of a loved one ■ Changes in your health or the health of a loved one, your financial security, or a relationship ■ A sensitive personal issue Remember, your PCP can’t help you if they don’t know what’s happening in your life. And while it may be hard to be open about your feelings, your PCP is concerned with one thing only: supporting you. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institutes of Health good not so good getting worse seriously ill My doctor VISIT checklist This checklist can help you communicate better with your doctor. Fill it out and take it with you to your appointment. You might also use it to prepare for calls to your doctor’s office about your care. The reason for my visit: I am most concerned about: . What the doctor needs to know: I have these new or worsening symptoms: . My health has changed recently (taking new medi- cations, recovering from surgery, etc.): . I have these limitations (poor vision, difficulty walking, memory problems, etc.): . Your health/treatment: Questions to ask Do you have any follow-up instructions for me? Can I get those in writing? When will I get the test results from my visit? When should I schedule my next appointment? When should I expect to see improvement? If there is no improvement, what should I do? How should I contact you if I have questions after this visit? Staying well: Questions to ask Does my family health history raise my risk for any health problems? What vaccines, screenings or medical tests do I need? What are some steps you think I should take to stay healthy? I feel: Need emergency care? Call 911.