Your Doctor and You: Saying More Than "Ahhh"

Physicians are faced with a lot of difficult challenges today. Often times, they are given very little time in the day to see each patient, and diseases seem to be becoming more and more complex. Treatment options are improving, however it is difficult for physicians to stay on top of the options available because these options seem to change daily, especially new and improved drug treatment therapies.

If you are becoming discouraged with the care you are receiving from your physician:

* Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Tell him or her that you feel rushed, and make it known that you are considering seeking other care if your concerns are not addressed. Let your doctor know that you want to build a trusting relationship with him or her, one that you can depend on, should you ever need it in the future.

* When you call your doctor’s office to make an appointment, tell the appointment desk that you have several concerns you’d like to discuss and may need extra time with your doctor. Don’t make an appointment for evaluation of a sore throat and walk in with a list of things that have been bothering you for 6 months. Chronic conditions that have gone untreated most often need more time to discuss, so tell them up front when making your appointment.

* It is also very important that you, as the patient, prepare for your doctor's appointment ahead of time. Write down the concerns and issues you’d like to discuss with your doctor so that you can address them point-by-point. Your doctor will appreciate that you took the time to prepare and will most likely do his or her best to go over all of your concerns.

* Anticipate what the doctor is going to tell you. If you have a chronic condition that you know requires follow-up testing or blood work, ask your doctor ahead of time for an order to have testing done BEFORE your doctor appointment. By having all of your blood work and tests done ahead of time, your doctor will have all of the information he or she needs to form a diagnosis.

* TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!!! If you feel something is wrong, be persistent. Nobody knows your body like you do! The more in tune with your body you are, the more likely you will recognize symptoms early on and be able to get treatment early! Your doctor will also learn to trust your instincts if you are consistent and persistent.

* Last but not least, if you have tried all of the above and still feel you are not getting the care you need, your friends and family can often times be your best referral source. Ask them who they use, and call to schedule a time to introduce yourself and have a physical. Upon meeting your new physician and having your physical, make your expectations known right away. Provide your new doctor with your old medical records when possible, and make sure you are seen at least once a year for a physical. It’s important that your doctor has the opportunity to get to know you, so that in the event of a true emergency he or she will have as much information about you as possible.

If you have any questions about talking to your doctor or would like a referral for a specific health condition, call our office at 574-243-5108.