Content Overview 
- Summary
- Tell The Doctor Everything That He Or She Needs To Know
- Be Open And Honest With Your Doctor
- Ask Everything You Need To Know
- If You Are Asked A General Question, Answer It Precisely
- Use Medical Terms Whenever Possible
- Be Sure You Understand What The Doctor Tells You
- If You Ask Questions About Research You've Done Or Information You've Learned, Give The Doctor A Copy Or The Citation
- Learn What To Do If You Have Additional Questions
- Let The Doctor Know What You Hope To Accomplish In The Meeting
- Keep The Playing Field Level
- Don't Expect The Same Relationship With All Your Doctors
- Be Proactive
- Do What You Are Comfortable With To Make Yourself An Individual To The Doctor
- Expect The Best From Your Doctor
- If You Are Age 65 or Older, Watch For Doctors Who Think About Your Age Before Your Symptoms
- Learn How To Deal With Problems That May Arise In Meetings With Doctors
- At The End Of The Appointment, Recap What Happened. Ask Where To Learn More. Keep Your Other Doctors To Date
- If You Are Grateful To Your Doctor, Show It
- Do Not Avoid Sensitive Subjects
How To Maximize Limited Time With Your Doctor
Keep The Playing Field Level
Next » « Previous11/20
If you feel you and the doctor are working together as partners in your health care, you will feel more in control. It also stands to reason that your time together will be more fruitful. Here are some tips for keeping the playing field level:
- Discuss with the doctor what to call each other. For example, by your last names or first names. It's hard to be on an equal footing when you call the other person "Doctor XYZ" and the doctor calls you by your first name.
- In many meetings with a doctor, the patient is naked under a flimsy cloth or paper gown while the doctor is in business attire and possibly an imposing white coat. To help level the playing field:
- Sit or stand up when you're not being examined.
- Wear two dressing gowns so nothing is hanging out.
- Practice being in an examining gown at home. Create a gown on your sewing machine or with a few hand stitches.
- If you don't have a sewing machine or aren't handy with a needle, wear a large men's shirt or bathrobe backwards. Don't close the back. Leave it open just as normally happens with a hospital gown. Spend a couple of hours going about your normal activities inside the house. It helps to do this in front of close friends or family members. The key is to get comfortable with this kind of exposure -- like a rehearsal for a performance.
Please share how this information is useful to you.
0 Comments
Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.
Get Your Personal Guide