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Questions To Ask A Primary Care Doctor

Related Article: Questions To Ask A Primary Care Doctor

Questions To Ask A Primary Care Doctor

  • Order the questions according to your own priorities. If you run out of time, you will at least have the answers to the questions which are most important to you.

    To change the order of the questions, insert a number from 1 - 15 in the space provided (or 1 - 19 if you have a managed care plan.) Then press "Reorder and Save" The questions will automatically re-order to your preference. You can then print the chart and take it to your interview with you.

  • After your interview with the doctor, look at "Considerations After A Doctor Interview," below.

Questions For A Doctor

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Add any questions that are important to you that the office staff was not able to answer during the phone interview. prior to the interview.
  2. Number the questions in order of priority for you.
  3. Click on "Reorder and Save"
  4. Print this form.
  5. Ask as many questions as time will allow in the order you set. If you don't get to ask all the questions you want, ask when you can follow-up with the doctor either at another face-to-face meeting or on the telephone.
  6. Record the doctor's answers, or make brief notes about them during the interview. Expand the notes after the meeting so you'll remember what was said when comparing other doctors, and for the future if you work with this doctor.

What do you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of your practice?

The doctor's response should provide insight into the way the doctor views his or her practice, and what consideration is given to making improvements. The question itself may catch some doctors by surprise. The doctor's response will provide insight into the doctor's personality.

What training have you had in treating my diagnosis?

Don't expect your primary doctor to have training in your health condition unless she or he is also a specialist in it, but the answer can be enlightening.

How do you stay current on new developments in medicine?

How do you stay in contact with my other doctors?

We recommend that you keep all your doctors up-to-date about every doctor visit, change in your physical or mental condition, and changes in drugs and/or treatments. See Keeping Your Doctors Up To Date for a simple system. Is the doctor willing to participate - or does he or she have a better system for doing the same thing?

Are you willing to work with me as part of my healthcare team or do you want to be the decision maker? Would you be offended if a patient questioned your medical suggestion and perhaps went in a different direction?

What should we call each other? By our first names or more formally?

If the playing field is to be level between the two of you, the doctor shouldn't call you by your first name, and you call the doctor, "Doctor X."

If a medical condition can be treated with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and nutrition, and I'm willing to make them, are you willing to take the time to work with me?

To learn more, see Exercise, Nutrition

How much time do you generally give to patients?

What if I need more time at a particular session?

In addition to you, who else will be on my care team?

(If you do a lot of traveling): Do you have connections in (list the cities or countries to which you travel often)?

Do you have a financial interest in a testing lab or other test such as an MRI to which you may refer patients?

About your approach to patient education: I'm the kind of person who (wants to know everything)(doesn't want to know bad news)(wants to know my prognosis)(fill in the blank to match your needs) - are you willing to work with that?

What is your treatment philosophy? For example, are you more concerned about quantity of life than quality? (If the philosophy is different from yours:) My belief is. . . . . . . . . .Are you willing to follow my beliefs with respect to my care?

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SPECIALIST

If it comes to that, my wishes about being kept alive are as follows. (Describe your wishes, including the identity of the person who will make decisions for you if you can no longer make them for yourself. If you haven't focused on this area before, look at the article on Living Wills And Other Advance Directives.) The question to the doctor: Do my decisions fit with your philosophy? If not, are you willing to honor them?

If you don't want to be kept alive at all costs, but your doctor disagrees, it may be difficult for him or her to follow your wishes if it comes to that.

IF YOU ARE IN A MANAGED CARE PLAN: (number 1 - 8)

If I have questions between visits, what is the best way to get them answered? Fax? E-Mail? Phone call? If a call, when is the best time to call? (Some doctors only speak to patients when then return calls at certain hours.)

In case I ever need to apply for Social Security Disability, what has your experience been about getting your patients approved?

(While this question may seem premature, the more cooperative your doctor is, the more likely you'll get approved. For more information see, Social Security Disability and Applying For Social Security Disability.)

What do you think of my managed care plan?

How are you compensated?

If the doctor's fee is "capitated" (he or she is paid a set amount per year per patient), the more the doctor sees you, the less the doctor earns per visit.

How long have you been with the plan?

Are you considering leaving the plan?

(You're looking to find out whether there is a commitment to the HMO so there's a shot that the doctor will be there as long as you are.)

Are you bound by any "gag rules" with the Plan?

(Some managed care plans prohibit their doctors from discussing certain subjects with patients, such as more expensive treatment strategies. Federal law prevents gagging doctors in Medicare MCO's. Some state laws also prohibit "gag rules.")

Does the Plan limit you as to the referrals you can make? If so, how do you think that would impact the care you give me?

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE

Try to negotiate a discount. A Harris poll found that of those consumers who asked for a discount on a medical bill, almost half of them say they succeeded. Generally, the key is to offer to pay the discounted fee immediately rather than pay the doctor over a period of time. See the Survivorship A to Z documents: How To Negotiate A Doctor's Bill, Uninsured

 

Considerations After A Doctor Interview

 

Considerations After A Doctor Interview

OFFICE CONSIDERATIONS:

YES / NO

When you enter the office, are you made to feel welcome?

  • Yes
  • No

Is the waiting area comfortable and clean?

  • Yes
  • No

Is the office staff friendly and willing to answer your questions?

  • Yes
  • No

Do nurses and other healthcare professionals seem competent and caring?

  • Yes
  • No

Did you wait long for the doctor?

  • Yes
  • No

DID THE DOCTOR. . .

. . . give me a chance to ask questions?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . really listen to me?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . answer in terms I understood?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . show respect and concern for me?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . ask relevant questions?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . make me feel comfortable?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . address my health problems?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . make me feel assured and confident about his advice?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . explain all of my treatment options and ask about my preferences (if applicable)?

  • Yes
  • No

. . . spend enough time with me?

  • Yes
  • No
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