How you respond to a medical emergency can impact your care. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless in critical situations, advocating for yourself is a crucial step that may help you ensure you receive the best possible treatment. Whether it’s clearly communicating your symptoms, medical history, or preferences, speaking up can guide healthcare providers to make quick, accurate decisions.
Understanding medical rights
Do you know about informed consent and treatment? In a medical emergency, you may be advocating for someone else, so it can be helpful to be aware of their medical history and any preferences they may have expressed previously. If you aren’t sure or are unable to communicate with the person for which you are advocating, check for a medical ID. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also provides additional helpful information on informed consent in their Informed Consent FAQ resource.
Taking action to help
With guidance from our EMS partners, we’ve compiled a list of actions you can take to help yourself, or a loved one you may be accompanying, get the emergency care they need:
Stay calm and assess the situation
In an emergency, emotions can run high. Take a moment to breathe deeply and assess the situation. Identify what is happening, who is involved, and what immediate actions need to be taken.
Use direct language
When advocating for yourself or someone else, communicate clearly and assertively. Be prepared to recall your medical history and share relevant details with the medical team.
Provide specific details
When speaking to emergency responders include details such as the nature of the emergency, the number of people involved, and any injuries. Use simple and clear language, avoiding jargon or long explanations. If you are deaf, non-verbal, or have a cognitive disability, make sure to tell emergency responders about your communication needs.
Stay informed
Ask questions about your care to stay informed about what is happening. If you’re advocating for someone else, keep them in the information loop. You could even take notes to share with them later. Transparency can reduce anxiety and be empowering.
Be an ally
If you are accompanying a loved one receiving care, acting as an ally to both the medical provider and the patient can be the best way to help during a critical situation. Offer the patient emotional support and reassurance so they can regain a sense of control. Listen actively to both the patient and the medical team and serve as an intermediary with the goal of supporting timely care.
Be prepared
Before an emergency hits, consider taking these actions:
- Wear or carry a medical ID (bracelet, wallet card, or phone-based app with emergency info)
- Have an emergency contact listed in your phone as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency)
- Create a concise medical summary (allergies, conditions, medications) to carry with you
- Practice explaining your condition, so you can be ready to clearly describe your needs, if you have a disability, chronic illness, or communication challenge
Insight from the MASA team
Q: How do I provide my MASA membership information during an emergency?
A: Prioritize calling 911 and rely on MASA to assist you with the claim(s) later.
There’s no need to provide your MASA membership information to the emergency responders. Ambulance providers won’t take a patient’s MASA information in an emergency, because they’re trying to assess the situation first.
How MASA can help
Having a MASA membership means you can focus on advocating for the care and recovery you need and worry less about those emergency transport bills. Once you’ve been stabilized and potentially admitted to the hospital, mention your membership benefits to your care team. The easiest and most convenient way to share your membership and pertinent plan information with your providers is with the MASA app (Google/iOS) on your phone.
If your physician feels you are ready to repatriate to a hospital nearer to your home, or be transferred to a more appropriate facility for care, they can call on us to assist with non-emergent arrangements. Depending upon your plan, you can also call on us for specialized needs like return transports for your children, vehicles, and pets.
Taking charge when it matters most
Advocating for yourself or others during an emergency requires a blend of calmness, clarity, and proactive engagement. By understanding the situation, communicating effectively, knowing your rights, and providing support to others, you can navigate these challenging moments more effectively.
