Questions you should be asking your doctor
Members of my immediate family have recently experienced some pretty serious illnesses which, of course, involved patient/family/ physician communication (or, in some cases, a lack thereof).
Often, I’d find myself searching for whom to speak and what to say. Consequently, I wondered how the average lay patient or his family might react when events go wrong, whether in the hospital or in an office visit.
While questions should be asked of the doctor, sometimes it’s the right inquiries that make the difference — sometimes between life and death. Thanks to Bottom Line Health and my own experiences, I urge readers to take a look at the communication steps we all should know when a medical situation occurs.
1 Be careful about one-sided conversations. Even though doctors are trained to listen to patients, this skill may become less reinforced as years pass. As
for us, we’ve never been trained, so we blindly trust our physicians and do what they tell us without question. Please. Stop. A back-and-forth relationship with time spent on the right questions and answers is best for your improved health.
2 Your questions do matter. The example Bottom Line Health offers is a good one: Your doctor prescribes a new and expensive medication for which you have little or no insurance to pay the bill. Do you blindly agree to take the drug or do you question if and why you need this one above all others. Depending upon the condition being treated, the doctor’s answer could affect your physical and financial health. If your budget doesn’t allow for the expensive brand and you don’t fill the prescription, you’ll definitely suffer repercussions. On the other hand, if you tell him or her to write a prescription for a less costly drug, chances are that will do the trick. If we don’t communicate openly with our provider, we’re not giving the physician the opportunity to heal our ailments. Speak up. Consider negotiating a discount with your druggist for costly prescriptions or even pay out of pocket. The latter is often cheaper than going through insurance.
3 Watch the time. Whether the 15-minute office visit mandated by most insurance plans or the more “generous” 35-45 minutes for a yearly physical, time is of the essence. Even with my husband’s recent stay and the patience and knowledge of his hospitalist, I still had to lead the conversation to ask questions on pressing issues his doctor didn’t address. It helps immensely if you and/or your advocate write questions down before you see the doctor. Not too many of us remember questions we want answered when we’re face-to-face with the doctor. Whether you’re anxious and freeze up or let your doctor do all the talking, your health questions often end up in the proverbial bedpan. Limit your questions to the most crucial concerns; otherwise, you may receive rushed answers or, maybe, none at all.
4 Use the providers’ patient portal. Most practices and hospitals today utilize these online portals, which also can be a blessing to their patients. Once we sign up, we can see lab results, transcriptions, medical records and more. Additionally, the portals sometimes allow patients to ask questions online or even request prescriptions. Some portals let patents send in their lists before appointments so the doctor can review them beforehand.
5 Remember your advocate. Make certain someone you trust is beside you at all times. Obviously, we need someone during hospital stays, especially if the patient is groggy or unconscious but, we also need someone for an important office visit. Studies show that 80 percent of patients immediately forget what’s discussed during the conversation and the other 20 percent recall it incorrectly. Don’t simply ask your hard-of-hearing Great Aunt Harriet to sit in the hospital room or accompany you to the doctor visit. It’s imperative to choose your advocate wisely to remember important details, clarify information and grasp your treatment plan. Be certain your advocate can write legibly as well. Taking notes is a must.