Tips for Talking to Your Doctor

To get the right health care, you need to develop a relationship with your doctor. Whether you are having a routine physical examination or being evaluated for surgery, if you

• prepare for your visit,
• take an active role in your health care, and
• continue to communicate with your doctor between visits

you will obtain more satisfactory results.

The following tips will help you get the most of your doctor’s care.

Prepare for Your Visit
When you visit the doctor for the first time, write down your medical history that includes:

• illnesses for which you received medical treatment and whether the Illness was cured or is reoccurring,
• a list of all recent shots and vaccines,
• a list of all known allergies, and
• the list of medications (including prescription drugs, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications) that you are taking.

Prepare a list of concerns and questions to be discussed during the visit. Order the list by importance. This list will help you to tell your doctor what you think he or she needs to know about your illness and general health. Include details of your illness such as:

• what time of day do you feel the worst or
• if you have a fever, chills, or nausea.

For each return visit to the doctor, update the list of illnesses and concerns. Include how your health has changed since the last visit. Describe recent visits to an emergency room or any new symptoms.

Actively Participate in the Visit
Be an active participant in your health care. When you are in the doctor’s office:

• discuss each illness or concern with the doctor in the order of most importance.
• discuss only one illness at one time.
• don’t withhold information even if the information is personal or embarrassing.
• mention changes in your weight, appetite, sleep patterns, energy level, etc.
• be honest in your responses to the doctor’s questions.

The doctor needs to receive as much information as possible from you to accurately diagnose your problem.

Some questions you might want to ask include:

• What is my diagnosis?
• Do I need to take any tests to either rule-out or confirm the diagnosis?
• How do you plan to treat my condition?
• Do I have any treatment options?
• When will the treatment start and how long will it last?
• What are the risks and side effects of the treatment?
• Should I watch for any particular symptoms and notify you if they occur?
• When do I need to call or see you again?

Share your point of view. When you have returned for a follow-up visit, it is important for the doctor to understand what treatment is working and what is not working.

Be sure you understand all explanations from the doctor.

• Ask questions when you don’t know the meaning of a word or if the doctor’s instructions are not clear.
• Repeat what you have heard to allow the doctor to verify you understood what was said.
• Take notes to help you remember all main points of your discussion.
• Ask your doctor to write instructions down for you.

If the doctor has prescribed medicine, be sure you can read the prescription and that you understand how the medicine is to be taken.

Ask whom you can call in your doctor’s office if you have additional questions and when is the best time to call.

The key is to not leave the doctor’s office unless you:

• completely understand your diagnosis,
• know how the doctor will treat your illness, and
• know your treatment options.

If you don’t understand, ask what you can read to obtain more information. The doctor may be able to provide a pamphlet or an Internet site address.

Follow-up After the Visit
When you are at home, you should call the doctor’s office

• if you have questions about your illness,
• if your symptoms get worse, or
• if you have a problem with the medicine prescribed.

If your doctor wants you to have tests done at a lab or refers you to a specialist, make the appointment. If you had tests, call to obtain your test results. After the results have been received, call the doctor’s office to identify the next steps in your treatment.