In this enlightening, step-by-step guide, author Alexander "Sandy" Halperin, DDS, shares his 16 patient-tested and doctor-recommended tools to help you improve the quality of your health care by creating your best possible health care team. Learn how to become a more engaged patient with handy, multi-use charts and forms for use during office visits, tests and surgeries. Effectively communicate with your doctor and the staff. Find efficient solutions for tracking your health care and medication history. And set yourself up for success!Halperin has lived with a chronic illness since childhood, and his tools come from years of experience navigating his own health care maze.A new diagnosis of Early Stage Alzheimer's disease in 2010 propelled him to share his lessons and do-it-yourself tools with others. Because of his cognitive impairment, he enlisted the help of co-author Gina Davidson, who gave shape to the ideas he wanted to share.Halperin served on the National Alzheimer's Association 2012-2013 Early Stage Advisory Group and has a research fund established in his name at Florida State University's College of Medicine Center for Brain Repair. He was recently asked to be the focus of a CNN documentary filmed by senior health care producers under the direction of Dr. Sanjay Gupta.Doctors, patients, and caregivers alike will want to have Halperin's guide at their fingertips. Medical professionals will want to buy in bulk for their patients to simplify and improve processes and communication. Mothers will want to buy it for their families. What better way to get your health care act together than to have it all in one place to start with?Your journey to better health care begins here!
About the Author: Alexander "Sandy" Halperin, DDS, was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. After receiving his dental degree from New York University College of Dentistry and his specialty training in prosthodontics at Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, he enjoyed an acclaimed career working in many areas of dentistry. He co-authored a book titled Mastering the Art of Complete Dentures, and served as Assistant Professor of Prosthodontics at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center. Following his early disability retirement from dentistry because of his life-threatening infections, Sandy held positions as a disability insurance specialist, co-owner of a community newspaper, president of a marketing, advertising and research firm, and City Commissioner in Weston, Florida. Toward the end of his professional career, Sandy was employed as a dental consultant for the Florida Department of Health, where he worked in two key areas: public health dentistry and prosecution services, where he reviewed consumer patient complaints made against dentists. Since receiving his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2010, Sandy has channeled his energy and expertise into increasing awareness, raising funds for curative research, encouraging and advocating for patients and caregivers, and working to help decrease the stigma associated with this cognitive impairment. While serving as an adviser and now an alumni of the National Alzheimer's Association 2012-2013 Early Stage Advisory Group, Sandy has traveled nationwide, speaking with everyone from members of Congress to a variety of organizations. In 2013, the Alexander "Sandy" Halperin Research Fund was initiated at Florida State University's College of Medicine Center for Brain Repair, and Sandy was selected to be the focus of a CNN documentary under the direction of Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sandy lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with his wife. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Gina Davidson grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and moved to Florida in 1986, where she attended Florida State University and graduated in Secondary English Education. She has been a writer for more than 20 years, worked for 13 years in journalism (writing, advertising and design), and has taught language arts at the elementary and high-school levels. She is currently working on a memoir. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband, their two children, and their golden retriever, Clark.