Can We Talk? Communicating With Your Doctor

Frequent contact with healthcare professionals is often a part of getting older. Communicating with your doctor is essential for developing a successful and honest relationship and getting the most out of your visit. Good communication is also key to being an active participant in your medical decisions.

Active participation in your healthcare begins with being prepared and organized for your appointment. Be prepared to give the doctor as much information about your physical and mental health as possible. This information may be needed to make proper diagnoses and prescribe appropriate medications. Use the following tips to help you prepare for your next doctor's appointment so that you get the most out of it.

It is especially important to come prepared to first-time appointments with health care professionals you have never met with before. It is recommended to include some of the following topics in your conversation during a first time office visit:

• Advanced Directives:If you already have an advanced directive written up, bring a copy to keep on file at the doctor's office. If you do not, you may want to discuss the advantages of writing one with your doctor.

• Any personal, spiritual, or ethnic considerations that could affect health care decisions.

• Information about past hospitalizations and care from previous health care professionals. It is helpful if you can obtain copies of your medical record from any previous health care professional you have seen.

• Information about any diagnostic tests or treatments already planned or implemented by previous health care professionals.

• Lifestyle habits: Smoking, drinking, exercise, diet, sleeping habits, and even family history of certain disease states such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers.

• Make a medication list. Before your appointment, make a list of the names, strengths, and doses of the medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Try using our Medication Card (found in the "Interactive Tools" tab) to record your medication list and take to your appointment. Note any side effects that you may be experiencing with your medications or any problems you may be experiencing, such as forgetting to take your medications or worrying about the cost of your medications.

During subsequent visits to healthcare professionals it is still very important to come prepared. This will save time for both you and the physician, as well as ensuring you will receive the best care. Think about jotting down some of the following before meeting with your doctor:

• Note your symptoms. Take time before your visit to note any symptoms that you may be experiencing, how long they have been occurring, and if you have done anything to try to relieve the symptoms. Include all information, even if you do not think it is important, because it may have an impact on your diagnosis or treatment.

• Note any changes in medication therapy. Whether a different healthcare professional has prescribed a new medication for you or you have chosen to stop taking something, let your doctor know. It is important for your healthcare professionals to know not only what they prescribe for you to take, but what you actually end up taking on a regular basis. Especially if you stopped taking a medication due to a side effect or cost related issues, the doctor may be able to help find a different medication to treat the same issue with less side effects or a reduced cost.

• Note any recent lifestyle changes. Inform your doctor of any lifestyle changes you have experienced recently, such as starting to smoke, drinking more alcohol than usual, or changing your diet. Recent lifestyle changes may affect your symptoms and your treatment options.

• Ask questions. Asking questions during your visit is essential to give you a good understanding of your healthcare. However, this is sometimes difficult because it is easy to get nervous or anxious when visiting the doctor. Writing out your questions or concerns beforehand may help ease some of the apprehension when talking to your doctor and will help ensure that you don't forget something. Check off the questions as they are answered so that you know that everything has been covered. Another option is to record your questions on a tape recorder.

• When a new diagnostic test or treatment is recommended, the following questions may help you make a decision regarding the treatment or test:
  1. How effective is the treatment or how accurate is the diagnostic test?
  2. How will the test results change treatment?
  3. What are the possible side effects?
  4. What other choices are available and do they differ significantly in cost?
  5. What are the specific goals for the treatment?
  6. How will the response to treatment be followed or monitored?
  7. What kind of response have you had with this treatment/test in other patients?

• Record the answers. Be sure to write down the answers the doctor gives you. This will allow you to refer back to them at a later date if you do not remember how the doctor responded to a question or concern. If you use a tape recorder, make sure it is okay with your doctor for you to record the answers at your visit. If you feel comfortable enough, let a close family member sit in on the appointment with you. Sometimes, information can be so overwhelming when it concerns yourself, it is nice to have someone else there to listen and make sure you heard everything correctly.

• Seek clarification. If something the doctor tells you is unclear or confusing, be assertive and ask the doctor to clarify or discuss the information in more detail. As your appointment is coming to an end, repeat back to your doctor what was said to make sure you understood all the details of your visit.

• Ask your pharmacist questions as well if you received a new prescription from the doctor visit:
  1. What is the best way to manage the symptoms I'm experiencing?
  2. Are over-the-counter (OTC) medications available to treat these symptoms?
  3. What precautions should I take when using this medication?
  4. What common side effects associated with this medication should I know about?
  5. Could this medication interact with other medicines or OTC products I am taking?

It is very important to communicate with your pharmacist as well as your doctor to prevent medication errors, side effects, and maximize your treatment benefits.

To help aid in the understanding of your disease states you can do your own research before and after your appointment. Libraries, health organizations, bookstores, and the Internet have a plethora of health information that can make you more informed of your treatment. Make sure that the information is from a reliable source, however. Internet sources that are supported and funded through the government are reliable as well as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHQ), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and many disease specific sites that are orientated for the patient.

Never hesitate to contact your doctor if you have questions, concerns, or if a medication does not seem to be working. Inform your doctor of any problems you may be having with a medication or treatment decision. Your doctor is there to help you understand your health, medications, and overall well being.

Last Updated: February 2008

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