Communication with a Doctor

It is not uncommon to feel lost in the haze and maze of having a conversation with your doctor or health care provider. It may feel like you have just landed in a foreign country without a clue to the language and culture. Like Alice falling through the looking glass, you may become overwhelmed and confused. Effective communication, however, has become a standard of good health care practice.

The recent tragic death of Sen. John Murtha after "simple, non-invasive" gallbladder surgery is a stark reminder of the need for effective communication between health care providers and patients. Communication does not have to be a jumble of confusion in health care anymore. First, as a health care consumer you have access to much more information today than ever before; you should use this increased knowledge to help navigate the communication jungle. Also, today's health care providers should be savvier to your needs; they should fully appreciate the need for consumers to be well informed and educated before they make major decisions.

By the same token, it is wise to never take that for granted. Virtually, every profession has its own jargon and shorthand related to the work. Medicine isn't any different, except for the fact that quality health care, and even your life, could be hanging in the balance.

1 Be prepared with questions and comfortable with your knowledge level on the issues to be discussed. If you are talking to your health care provider about surgery, short-term treatments or long-term medical care, you should do your homework. One of the advantages of living in the information age, is that you, the consumer, can become familiarized with your medical condition on a personal level.

2 Be up front from the very beginning and don't let "med speak" get out of hand. There is nothing wrong with asking, insisting even, that your medical provider slow down and explain things to you in terms you understand and feel comfortable with. Do not be intimidated. If a health care provider makes you feel uncomfortable for just asking questions, then maybe he or she is not the right one for you. Health care today must be a mutually respectful partnership between clinician and patient.

3 Understand that there may be cultural differences that can affect your discussion. This is normal and should be expected. All human beings are products of their culture, and that includes race, religion and even geography. Remember, it is not only your culture that may impact the conversation, but your provider's as well.

4 Take in the information slowly. Often times, there is a lot of information to decipher about a new medical condition and it's virtually impossible to learn everything you need to know from one meeting. Take it one piece of information at a time. A good question to keep asking your provider is, "What do I need to know TODAY?" By asking this you will get the basic nuts and bolts down of the issues and help establish a firm foundation for additional information.

5 If you and your health care provider speak two different languages of origin you may find asking for a translator to be helpful. Often, even if their secondary language skills are excellent, people may still think in their native tongue, which could result in some unnecessary confusion.

6 Reflect back to your health care provider exactly what you believe has been said. Explain what you think you heard. This allows for clarification of any confusing information. It also helps establish and build a better relationship between you and your provider for future discussions.

Source: Health News