Getting what you want from your doctor visit or how to have the best doctor visit possible!

Rochelle and Pam, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard people say their provider didn’t answer their questions, they didn’t understand what their doctor was saying, or they forgot something they wanted to ask. Why is this, what can a person do about it and who’s responsibility is it, anyway?

Going to the doctor tends to create anxiousness, even when we are going for routine physicals with no particular issue. Even a low level of anxiousness can create what I call “foggy brain syndrome.” You won’t find that in a medical dictionary, however, we all empirically know when we are anxious we become forgetful, rushed and have a tendency to overlook things we would otherwise see and ask for.

The key to having a good interaction with your doctor is to “be prepared.” When we are prepared, our brains allow us to focus on what is important at that moment rather than what we are trying to remember. Let me repeat this since it’s relevant to so many parts of our lives: When we are prepared, our brains allow us to focus on what is important at that moment rather than what we are trying to remember. This is exactly why people such as pilots, surgeons or athletes can perform in a moment of crisis; they know their stuff which allows them to be creative and find new solutions.

How then to prepare? I will suggest there are 4 steps, and try to remember as you go through these steps, the visit is about you, it’s your money, and yes, it is your time, too!

First, study up! Learn what you can about the things bothering you. While I don’t advocate taking what we read on the internet as gospel, it can provide us with starting points for a discussion. Stick to the highly regarded web sites such as WebMD or MayoClinic.com. These and other reputable sites are informative without being scary, and trust me, there is a lot of scary, misinformation on the internet.

You don’t have to figure out the problem ahead of time; that is the doctors’ job! However, the better you can describe your concerns and symptoms, the more useful the information will be and the better equipped you will be to respond to suggestions about possible solutions.

Second, write it down. Write down ALL the concerns you would like to cover. This will help your doctor know what issues are important for you, and will help keep the interaction focused. Too often, conversations start straying and topics then get overlooked. If your doctor feels the list is too long for that appointment, they can suggest rescheduling some of the less urgent topics to another time. If you tend to be somewhat shy or timid, you may want to write out all your thoughts in detail, handing it to the doctor at the beginning of your visit, so as not to forget important points.

Next week we will discuss the third and fourth steps to creating the best doctor visit possible and answer the question of who’s responsibility is it. Until then, remember, it’s your healthcare and it’s all about you!! To your good health!