Being a Good Patient 103

Have you ever found yourself at the end of your doctor visit and you feel like your main issue was not addressed or the doctor’s idea of what’s going on and the plan to deal with it does not line up with what you were thinking? Or maybe you just don’t get what the doctor is saying? Here are some tips to help you make sure your concerns are addressed at your doctor visit.

· Limit your chief complaint to one issue per visit. This was also mentioned last month, but it’s very important. If you are trying to address 5 issues in a 15-minute visit, it is likely none of the issues will be addressed thoroughly or to your satisfaction. Be very clear about what the most important issue is to you so your doctor can be sure to evaluate it thoroughly and address it.

· Tell your doctor exactly what you are worried about. Be honest about the Google search you did on your symptoms that now has you terrified. Don’t wait until the end of the visit and throw in that you’re worried you have some serious illness. Often your doctor can easily rule out serious problems and provide reassurance, if they know what your worries are. 

· Tell the whole story. Even if it’s ugly. Your doctor is not there to judge you. They need to know if you drink too much. They need to know your husband kicked you in the back and you were peeing blood for a week. They need to know if you never took your medication because you don’t think you need it. Getting to the root of things takes a lot longer when you keep your doctor in the dark.

· Ask questions. A good doctor wants you to understand what’s going on with your body and your treatment. If you have questions about how your doctor was able to decide you didn’t have a brain tumor without a CT scan, ask him or her. If you would rather not take a certain medication, ask if there are other options. If you don’t know if you really need the medication prescribed, speak up. If the doctor is not available, ask the nurse. If he or she doesn’t know the answer, they will get the doctor to help clear things up. Don’t ask random people. Your cousin’s friend who used to work at the hospital doesn’t know all the details of your specific case and will often lead you astray, even if he/she is a trained medical professional. 

· Don’t argue. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, but once you have clarity, arguing is not helpful. Your doctor has trained for years and is probably right and even if he/she is wrong, they aren’t likely to change their decision. If you trust that your doctor is competent, follow the instructions and give their recommended treatment time to work. If it is not improving as expected, either follow up or get a second opinion. If you are not willing to even try what your doctor recommends, you should probably change doctors because you clearly don’t have confidence in him or her.

· Take someone who knows a lot about health with you to the doctor if you have a hard time understanding. They can help your remember or understand your diagnosis and treatment and help hold you to the fire if you get off track. 

You and your doctor are a team. Going to the doctor can be a great learning experience to help you live a healthier life if you work together and communicate. 

Any questions? Ask Dr. Walker