Communicating with Your Doctor
A doctor/patient relationship is a very important one built on mutual trust and understanding. Your doctor is an expert in the field of medicine and you are the expert on you. It is important for you to tell your doctor your concerns in a concise and thorough manner so he or she can make the best decisions on your behalf. Being as active in your health decisions as possible will lead to the best outcomes.
It is important for you to get the most from your visits to your doctor. Doctors are generally pressed for time in today’s busy health care setting. This means that being organized and ready with your questions and concerns will help you make the most of the time you do have. There are some important principles to keep in mind as you approach your health related concerns:
• Educate yourself. Remember that knowledge is power and the more you know about your health, the better
equipped you will be to maintain good health.
Chronic Conditions: If you have been diagnosed with any health condition, find out all you can about it and the best way to manage it. Ask your physician to direct you to helpful resources such as classes, diabetic educators, dieticians, therapists or other experts appropriate to your particular concerns. Read credible sources of information about your condition that will help you to understand it. Ask questions until you get the answer you need. If you use the internet, stick to sites that are from reliable sources like major universities and hospitals, government sites like Medicare, Health and Human Services or the National Institutes of Health, national disease specific organizations like the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation etc and credible sites like Web MD. Stay away from sites that are posted by one individual or are trying to sell you something.
Preventative Screenings: It is also important to understand what preventative tests you should be undergoing on a regular basis so you can remind your physician at the time of your regular visits.
Medications: Understand your medications and why you are taking them. Your doctor, nurse and pharmacist are good resources for information on purpose, side effects and concerns regarding your medications. Keep an accurate list of medications you are taking in your purse or wallet at all times.
• Organize yourself. Keep good records of your medications, past medical history, allergies, surgeries and all
the doctors you see. There are many resources available to help you do this, journals and books that you
can buy. A simple folder or spiral notebook can also work. If you have a chronic condition that requires
monitoring like diabetes, keep good records to share with your doctor at visit times. There are a few general
tools included here to assist you.
• Empower yourself. Remember that you are the consumer. Don’t be afraid to be assertive if there is
something you do not understand. If you have some concerns about a diagnosis it is perfectly acceptable to
seek a second opinion. Medicine is as much an art as a science and a good doctor will welcome other
opinions in the face of a complicated or serious situation. Have advance directives that spell out what your
wishes are in case you are unable to speak for yourself. Be sure your doctor and your family know where
these documents are kept and are familiar with your wishes.
The following is advice from Dr. Kevin O’Neil, Brookdale Senior Living’s Medical Director on how to prepare for a doctor visit.
How to Prepare For Your Doctor Visit
• The doctor creates the agenda for your visit within the first few minutes, so if you have other issues that
need to be addressed, ask the doctor to put them on the agenda right at the start. Otherwise they may
not be addressed.
• Organize your thoughts in writing prior to your visit. Limit your agenda items to no more than two or, at
most, three items. Request another visit or an extended visit if more issues need to be addressed.
• Bring a notebook or writing pad so that you can jot notes during the course of your visit.
• Ask questions if you need more information or you are unclear on something. A doctor will interpret silence
as agreement and/or understanding as to what has been said.
• If you do not understand a term the doctor uses, say, “Excuse me. I don’t understand. What does that
mean?”
• If you have hearing difficulties, wear your hearing aid if you have one. Consider asking a spouse or relative
to accompany you to the visit. Ask the doctor to write down crucial information or instructions, or bring a
tape recorder so that you can review later with a spouse or relative.
• Bring a list of your medications, or better yet bring all your medicines in their containers. Make sure to
include vitamins and any herbal supplements so the doctor can check for interactions with your prescription
medicines.
• If a lab or x-ray test is ordered, discuss with the doctor the purpose of the test, what needs to be done if
the test is abnormal, and how are the results to be reported to you.
• If a medication is prescribed, ask the doctor the purpose of the medicine, how it should be taken, how long
it should be taken, what side effects to look for, and if a generic form is available. Make sure the doctor is
aware of any previous drug reactions and allergies.
• If a consultation is recommended with another physician, ask the doctor the purpose of the consultation
and who should set up the appointment with the consultant. Ask your primary physician when you should
return to see him/her.
• Make sure you have a date set up for your next appointment prior to leaving the office.