Navigating the U.S. healthcare system sometimes feels like playing a game. Host Priya Bathija introduces a new kind of health resource: The Women’s Health Playbook. After 22 years of working inside the healthcare industry, Priya is stepping out from behind the curtain to give you the "plays" you’ve never had. We’re moving beyond general advice to deliver the exact tactics and strategies you need to take up space in the exam room, understand your data, and finally make sense of your medical bills.

• (00:00:01) - The Women's Health Playbook
• (00:00:36) - Healthcare: The Women's Health Playbook

EPISODE 1 — Finding a doctor shouldn’t feel like a full-contact sport, but for women in the U.S. healthcare system, it often does. In this episode, Rebecca Bloom (attorney, advocate, and author of “When Women Get Sick”) helps us break down how to choose the right doctor, what “in-network” really means, and the exact questions to ask before your first appointment. Consider this your step-by-step playbook for finding a physician who advocates for you and passes the vibe check.

In this episode, we walk you through these key topics:

• Best resources and platforms for finding doctors (e.g., ZocDoc, insurer websites, referrals)
• How to verify credentials and read patient reviews critically
• Factors to consider beyond reviews: location, hospital affiliation, virtual capacity, relational style
• Developing questions to ask during your first appointment to assess compatibility
• How in-network vs. out-of-network factors impact access and costs
• Building relationships with your care team, including nurses and patient navigators

Want to dive deeper into this episode? Get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript here: Scouting the Field – Finding the Right Doctor

Explore more episodes at womenshealthplaybook.com.

EPISODE 2 — What does your doctor actually need from you to provide the best care? In this episode, Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart, acts as our coach. Celina takes us through an essential drill to prepare for that doctor’s visit, walking us through the five crucial elements to bring, why your wearable trends might matter more than the absolute numbers, and why she says being young doesn’t give you a free pass to ignore your data.

In this episode, we walk you through these key topics:

• The 5 Big “Packs”: A checklist of the five concrete categories you must prepare or bring to any appointment.
• Mastering Symptoms: How to note intensity, frequency, and changes in your “day-to-day” life (e.g., the fatigue that’s different).
• Pregnancy as a Stress Test: Why your history of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes is vital data for all your future doctors, not just your OB-GYN.
• The “Generational Health” Audible: Creative ways to get your family to talk about their health history (including card games and “blaming the doctor”).
• Wearable Realities: How to frame the data from your Apple Watch or Fitbit—focusing on trends over numbers—so your doctor takes it seriously.
• Shared Decision-Making: The shift toward a partner-consumer mindset where the doctor presents options, but you determine what works best for your lifestyle.

Want to dive deeper into this episode? Get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript here: The Pre-Game Prep: Setting the Agenda

Explore more episodes at womenshealthplaybook.com.