Working With Your Doctor

You and your doctor must be able to talk and work together as partners. Neither you nor your doctor can do it alone. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind the next time you see your doctor:

• Be prepared. Know ahead of time what you want to talk about. Write down your concerns and questions. Bring along your family health history and records.
• Start with your major concern first. Waiting until the end of an appointment to discuss an important problem may mean it won't get proper attention.
• Be specific about your symptoms and pay attention to details. Things that don't seem important to you may be important to your doctor. The American Society of Internal Medicine has concluded that 70 percent of correct diagnosis depends solely on what you tell your doctor.
• Share information honestly. Don't hide anything out of embarrassment or a desire to please your doctor.
• Speak up! Make sure from the outset that your doctor knows you have questions and concerns and expect to be listened to. Don't be afraid to be an active and assertive patient.
• Learn as much as you can about your health problems. The more you know, the better able you are to make good decisions about your own care.
• Ask lots of questions. You can't make good health-care decisions if you can't understand the information provided or aren't given enough information. If a question is crucial, ask politely but firmly for an answer before you leave.
• Work with your doctor to develop an effective treatment plan. There may be times when you just don't think you can do what your doctor advises. Don't walk out in frustration and ignore it all. Work with your doctor to find an alternative that is acceptable to both of you.
• Brown-bag your medications. Bring all your medications including over-the-counter drugs and vitamins to your next appointment. To avoid drug interactions and overmedication, make sure that your physician knows about every drug you are taking.
• Before you leave the office, know what you should do when you get home. It's difficult to recall everything a doctor tells you, especially if you're nervous or worried. Ask your doctor to write down the important points. Know who to call, and when to call, if you run into any problems.