How to Communicate with Your Doctor

The communication between a doctor and patient is important to patient care. The doctor sees detailed information on a patient chart, but he may not see the entire picture from notes and medical tests. Communicating with your doctor requires preparation and a clear vision of what you are expecting from the appointment.

Before the Appointment

Whether visiting the doctor for a yearly check-up or a specific medical concern, prepare ahead of time by writing down symptoms, questions and concerns you wish to address with your physician. I keep a medical journal outlining illnesses, aches and pains. I write down natural and over the counter treatments followed and the outcome of those treatments. According to Dr. Catherine L. Shaner, include a list of current and past problems, medications currently being taken and recent medical tests. Include over the counter and herbal therapies on the medication list to ensure the doctor knows all treatments, not just the ones prescribed by a physician. Some herbal treatments interfere with prescription medications and must be considered before changing treatment direction or starting a new treatment protocol.

When writing down questions, be detailed and specific. There are no questions too embarrassing to ask your physician. If you are too embarrassed to ask certain questions, ask a friend or family member to attend the doctor's visit with you to help you feel more comfortable in the medical setting. I never attend a doctor's appointment without my husband. He provides verbal and non-verbal support and ensures I ask every question on my list and some I forget to jot down. Give the friend or family member a copy of the questions to ensure none is missed during patient / doctor communication. Carepages suggests prioritizing the question list with the most important questions on top and least important questions on the bottom.

List your symptoms with detailed descriptions. Telling the doctor you passed out is important, but explaining the symptoms that appeared before or after the event could help diagnose the problem. For instance, feeling pain or numbness before passing out may narrow down the possibilities making it easier for the doctor to provide proper care and treatment. During an initial new patient visit, I presented the doctor with a complete list of symptoms, including dates and detailed descriptions of pain. The result was a quick diagnosis and surgical treatment plan just 12 days after the initial appointment. The surgery saved my life.

During the Appointment

With notes in hand, talk with the doctor about specific concerns. Keep a notepad and pen in hand to jot down terms you do not understand or questions that arise before or during the visit. Do not be afraid to stop the doctor during an explanation for clarification. Sometimes hearing the doctor answer one question sparks a long list of new questions. Write the new questions down and cover them with your doctor during the appointment. If medications are prescribed, ask about potential side effects or interactions with current medications. When the treatment plan is explained, take detailed notes to ensure you understand the specifics of the treatment plan. Ask the doctor to read over your notes to verify everything you have written down is accurate. Quest Diagnostics suggests asking the doctor for detailed instructions that are easy to follow.

After the Appointment

Ask the receptionist or office manager for a fax number or email to contact the doctor in case additional questions arise after the visit. Request an after-hours contact number in case of an emergency. If phone calls are taken by an answering service, verify how long it typically takes the doctor to return calls. Discuss office protocol for times when the doctor is out of town or unable to return a phone call.

A doctor works for the patient, but he likely sees more than one patient a day, so prepare to communicate with your doctor efficiently to get the most out of your doctor's visit.

Sources:

Shaner MD FAAP, Catherine L. "CND: Can We Talk? How to Communicate with Your Doctor."Melissa Kaplan's Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases. Fall 2002. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

"Become a Partner in Your Healthcare."NIH News in Health, March 2011. May 2007. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

"Communicate Better With Your Doctor."CarePages. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

"Learn How to Effectively Communicate with Your Doctor | Quest4Health."Quest4Health | Maintain Your Health. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.