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No one likes to fall ill, and as a logical extension,
most of us don't like going to the doctor. A visit
to the doctor also brings back childhood fears of
painful injections and unpleasant blood tests. Thus,
it is no surprise that a medical clinic is second
to unpopularity only to a dentist's chair! Consequently,
most of us do not make the best use of our doctors;
we tend to use them as crutches only when we fall
ill. However, one should never forget that the doctor-patient
relationship is unique; since it is the ultimate
one-to-one relationship, in which you confide fully
in your doctor and entrust him with your life, you
must learn to work as a partner with your doctor
!
In order to foster and nurture the relationship
with your doctor treat it with great care and respect.
Don't forget to say 'thank you' to your doctor when
you get better . He gets fed up of attending to
droves of patients with complaints all day long
and would be delighted to hear a patient appreciate
his efforts! Unfortunately, this common courtesy
is something we often forget; patients tend to remember
the doctor only when afflicted by an ailment. This
simple expression of gratitude by you will help
the doctor to remember you as a person , rather
than as just another case. He is likely to then
treat you as a special patient and getting VIP attention
from him helps improve your medical care a good
deal! As in a marriage, the doctor-patient relationship
depends on good communication and trust built up
over time and it is definitely worth spending time
and taking trouble to maintain a beneficial relationship.
Remember that the doctor's staff plays a key role
in your medical care , and you need to learn how
the clinic functions. It's very helpful to build
up a rapport with a special staff-member (who can
be a receptionist, a nurse or an assistant), and
this can prove to be very useful when you need to
talk to the doctor on a priority basis. The simple
rule is that if you treat the staff well, you will
be treated well too! A small 'thank-you' gift for
the staff can help ensure that you get personalized
attention. It's useful to learn which days are the
busiest and what times are the best to consult the
doctor. You should also find out what steps to take
if there is an emergency, or when the clinic is
closed.
Your visits to the doctor can be expensive, despite
the fact that the actual time you get to spend with
your doctor is very short ! Many doctors have perfected
the technique of flying into the examination room,
shooting off questions, and rattling off advice.
And, before you know it, you're shoved out of the
door, worrying about those crucial matters you forgot
to ask and the directions you forgot to write down.
So, what's the solution? Is there really a secret
to getting your money's worth from a doctor's visit?
Yes, there is, and it's a simple one: Do your 'homework'
thoroughly before visiting the doctor! In order
to make the best use of your doctor's time, you
need to 'prepare' for your visit, very much like
you prepare for an examination. Time spent in getting
organized before you go to the doctor can help immensely!
A well-organized patient not only makes efficient
use of the doctor's time but he is also likely to
get better medical care, as he is helping the doctor
a great deal in making an accurate diagnosis. A
conscientious patient makes sure that he has all
his medical records with him , as well as the vital
questions to which he needs answers (preferably,
in writing). Patients who value the doctor's time
will do their best to get answers to their queries
by tapping external sources such as books, libraries
and the Internet, before going to the doctor's clinic.
This procedure will allow them and their doctor
to focus on what is important to them, so that they
can make the best use of the limited 'quality time'
that they have with the doctor.
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Remember to inform your doctor about all the symptoms
you have noted. List them in a chronological order,
starting from the time when you first noted that
something was amiss. It's extremely useful to record
the factors that make your symptoms better, and
those that make them worse. This information provides
very useful medical clues. Also, let your doctor
know what remedies you have tried earlier, and whether
they have helped or not. Do not play games with
your doctor. If you have consulted another earlier
or have undergone relevant tests, please share this
information with your present doctor. It's helpful
to prepare a short one-page summary of your medical
history; not only does this summary help the doctor,
but it also ensures you do not forget to convey
to him information which could be vitally important
in your treatment. Computer programs are available
today, which can help you record and organize your
medical history, as well as that of your family
members. Make a list of all the medications you
are taking, both prescription and non-prescription.
As an alternative, you can collect all your medicines
in a brown paper bag and show them to your doctor.
Moreover, list all the specialists you are consulting
for specific disorders/conditions.
Ultimately, you obviously want to know what the
diagnosis is, so do not shirk from asking your doctor
what he thinks is wrong with you. Surprisingly,
many doctors are reluctant to give a name to a patient's
problems, so that if you do not ask specifically,
you may not get an answer. If you do not agree with
the doctor's diagnosis, tell him so, because if
you do not agree with it, you are unlikely to follow
his advise and treatment. Often, your doctor may
reply he does not know the diagnosis as yet. This
response does not indicate that he is an incompetent
physician; it may simply mean you have a difficult
problem, for which more tests are needed. It could
also mean that your doctor would like to 'wait and
watch' to see how the problem evolves, or that he
may need to refer you for a second opinion. Remember
that doctors do not always have all the answers.
You should be aware that reaching a diagnosis can
be hard and sometimes it can take a long time to
find out exactly what is wrong.
Ask your doctor to explain your diagnosis and how
it might affect you and your family.
Useful questions include:
- What is the diagnosis ? Find out the complete
medical name - and what it means in plain English
!
- What is my prognosis (outlook for the future)?
- What changes, if any, will I need to make
in my daily life?
- Is there a chance that someone else in my
family might get the same condition?
- Will I need special help at home for my condition?
If so, what type of help?
Your doctor is definitely not a mind-reader and
you must tell him everything you know, think, and
feel about your problem if you want an accurate
diagnosis and the best treatment plan. There is
no need to be shy or embarrassed about sensitive
subjects such as sexual problems or sexually transmitted
diseases as far as your doctor is concerned. Rest
assured that doctors have 'seen it all' and 'heard
it all' - they're not there to pass moral or ethical
judgement on your conduct.
Do not hesitate to share your thoughts with your
doctor. If you think what he is recommending does
not make sense, say so, and specify your reasons.
If you're worried, do express your anxieties and
find out how you can get more information and support
to dispel them. If you just sit on your chair and
listen meekly, your doctor will either assume that
you are uninterested in a full explanation of your
illness and its treatment - or that you are too
stupid to understand ! Remember - the more you ask,
the more you will be told !
Do keep in mind that doctors are also human, and
they are badgered by their own share of problems.
On certain days they may seem rude or curt; on such
days, give them a little leeway and a lot of understanding!
Since it is your 'head on the block,' so to say,
you are entitled to raise all relevant questions
and seek satisfactory answers to them. If you cannot
understand your doctor's explanations, ask him to
repeat everything in simpler language. Ask him to
show you illustrations; also, ask for written material
that explains the medical issues in greater detail,
so that you can study this later at leisure.
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The following terms can be very helpful when you
talk to your doctor:
- Please tell me more about that.
- What does that mean in simple English?
- Could you explain that to me again?
- Could you write that down for me?
- Where can I find more information about this
subject?
- You seem rushed.
- When can I call you to talk about this in
more detail?
Try to schedule your next visit at the end of the
consultation. If the succeeding question-answer
session is something which can be managed on the
telephone, then try to do so. You could save both
time and money by avoiding an unnecessary follow-up
visit to the doctor's clinic.
Another important point to be borne in mind is to
carry written checklists with you during every visit.
Normally, you can think up a wide range of questions
to ask the doctor, but as a result of the stress
generated by the consultation you invariably forget
most of them. Such a situation is very frustrating,
and you kick yourself when you get home. To prevent
this from happening, write down all the questions
you need to ask in order of priority. It is also
helpful to write down the doctor's answers. Studies
have shown that patients forget about 50 per cent
of what the doctor tells them during a visit! Writing
down the doctor's answers will prevent such a 'disaster'!
Moreover, your doctor also stands to benefit because
you need not pester him with your queries all over
again!
Try to find a friend or relative to accompany you
for the consultation, as his or her presence can
be very useful. He or she can help reduce your anxiety,
give you courage to ask the relevant questions,
and also help you to interpret the doctor's statements.
As mentioned earlier, do not hesitate to ask questions
(and more questions); never mind how many other
patients are waiting outside the doctor's clinic,
or how stupid the questions may seem to you. When
you are with the doctor, his only focus of interest
should be you, and it's his job to provide answers.
Remember, the only stupid question is the one you
didn't ask. Be courteous but assertive while asking
questions and obtaining information, but don't turn
aggressive or antagonistic. Listen carefully to
what your doctor says, and in case of doubt and
ambiguity, do not leave till these have been dispelled.
Remember, the word doctor is derived from the Latin
root docere, which means 'to teach'. Therefore,
look for a doctor who is willing to share his knowledge
with you!
What happens if you and your doctor differ about
a treatment option? Let me point out that there's
a right way of approaching your doctor and a wrong
way. It's simply a matter of mutual respect; you
wouldn't want your doctor to assume the worst about
you, so, on a reciprocal basis, don't assume the
worst about him! Often, if you can put across your
feelings and apprehensions in the right way, you
can get your doctor to help you. Explain your needs
to the physician in a polite way, without any belligerence
or hostility. Remember that you are both on the
same side - yours!
The most common complaint of patients is that they
are made to wait for ages before the doctor can
see them! It is only because patients put up with
such a situation that doctors get away with this
unpardonable behavior. After all, no doctor would
remain very busy if all his patients decide to refuse
to wait for him! Some patients seem to believe that
the longer they have to wait outside the doctor's
clinic, the better he must be, since he has so many
patients clamoring for his attention. This is simply
not true! No matter how hard-pressed a doctor may
be, he can always space out his appointments, so
that you never have to wait for more than an hour
to see him.
In order to ensure that you don't lose your patience
while waiting in the clinic, it would be a prudent
idea to carry a paperback novel or a Walkman. Nowadays,
many doctors keep patient educational leaflets and
brochures in their clinics and you could read these
and thus use your waiting time constructively! Some
clinics are also blessed with TV sets, so that patients
do not get totally fed up.
While an occasional delay is unavoidable (since
a medical emergency could require your doctor's
immediate attention), if you are made to wait for
an eternity each time, something is seriously wrong
with the doctor's attitude towards patients. For
any inordinate delay, the clinic staff should be
courteous enough to provide an explanation, and,
if needed, an alternative appointment. As an example
of efficient patient management, if a doctor at
the famous Mayo Clinic in the USA makes you wait
for more than 30 minutes without an explanation,
you can complain to the hospital manager who will
rectify matters.
Make sure you carry photocopies of all your medical
records and tests. You can give them to the doctor
for his files, if needed - but keep your originals
with you - they are your property ! Also, make sure
that you have clearly understood the contents of
your medical records so that you can explain the
details to another doctor if needed.
Certain categories of patients can be particularly
irksome or tiresome.
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For instance, doctors dislike
patients who :
- Expect to be treated on a priority basis.
- Are always late.
- Waste time needlessly.
- Ask the same questions endlessly.
- Think they know all the answers.
- Do not value the doctor's privacy or personal
time.
- Do not follow instructions.
- Go 'doctor shopping' i.e., change doctors
all the time.
- Don't pay their fees on time. It's always
helpful to put yourself in the other person's
shoes; i.e., to see things from your doctor's
point of view! The ideal patient would be one
who:
- Comes to appointments on time, or is thoughtful
enough to phone to cancel them.
- Tries to explain exactly what's bothering
him; i.e., he can express his anxieties and
apprehensions clearly.
- Answers questions honestly.
- Volunteers any important information that
the doctor may not specifically ask about, including
family history.
- Lets the doctor know if cannot follow his
directions and specifies the reasons why.
- Takes medications as directed, strictly adhering
to the dose schedule.
- Expresses his dissatisfaction in a courteous
manner
Try to do your best to become an ideal patient,
and learn to take an active interest in your medical
care. After all, this is the only body you have!
It's a simple fact of life that patients who know
how to make the most of their doctor get better
medical care. Therefore, it's very important that
you learn how to do so !
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