I Have a Nurse Coach...

I can get suckered into phone calls from charitable organizations or opinion surveys because I can't bear to hang up on friendly sounding people who are simply doing their jobs.  Sometimes I will give a polite "I'm not interested" and hang up. Last night my health insurance company called and they wanted to speak with me.

First thought:  "Oh Shit!  What is wrong now!"  Then I thought, "I can't just say 'not interested' and hang up."

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I spent over an hour on the phone with them.  We went over my health history, recent lab results, whether I'm a smoker or drinker, and at the end I made a personal health goal.  I couldn't hang up on them because:  A)  see the first sentence above and B) my life literally depends on them covering my doctor visits and medications.  It turns out that I'm qualified for a special program called Condition Care and this call was to get me set up on this new program.

According to their website, "Condition Care is a nationally accredited disease management program for members who are chronically ill. The program is designed to help participants understand their condition and their doctor’s instructions enabling them to self-manage their condition."

 (Ah yes, the perks of chronic illness.  Lucky me.)

You might say I kinda have an elitist attitude when it comes to my chronic illness.  I feel like since I live diabetes 24/7 I know what I need to do and don't need your help. I understand this disease and how to manage it.  I know what to do.  I don't need you to tell me what I should be doing.  Thank you very much.

But I played nice and answered the kind health educator's questions about my health, how I'm managing my condition, whether I know why I'm taking insulin (seriously), whether I'm depressed, when my last urine micro albumin test was, etc etc etc.   According to the kind lady this program offers me 24/7 access to registered nurses, dietitians and pharmacists to answer questions and I'll have my own "nurse coach" who will follow-up with me and offer guidance.

I was very skeptical about this program during the whole phone call.  At this point with my diabetes I don't think I need this program but I'm willing to see what they have to offer.  It sounds like it would be very helpful for people who are newly diagnosed or whose doctors simply write a prescription and send them on their way or for people who lack access to education programs.  Who knows, maybe I will get some - as yet unseen - benefits from it.

In the mean time I have an appointment (phone call) with my nurse coach next Tuesday.  Stay tuned...