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How to Talk
to Your Doctor—the Doctor’s Perspective Most physicians
have been forced by the economics of managed care to see more patients
in less time than ever before. Patients with multiple medical issues
tend to require more time than the average patient because multiple
factors may be involved—time to discuss things like diet, stress,
or exercise, and their effects on their disorders. And I like to
have time to tell you factors that you can control in assisting
me with your condition. Right now, a
follow-up appointment in our office lasts for precisely 15 minutes.
Some offices are seeing patients for only six to ten minutes each!
This includes the time it takes to clean the room after the preceding
patient, to have you change your clothes, and to make an entry on
your chart. Certainly it is important that you get the most out
of the remaining few minutes when you can actually talk to your
doctor. Here are a few
suggestions which can help improve the worth of the time that you
do have with your physician. Be Scientific
– Functional disorders such as IBS require a lot of insight
into dietary, stress, and behavioral variables. My patients with
the most success in managing their IBS tend to be scientific about
their disorder. They record in a diary things like stool patterns,
diet, and activity. They bring the diary to my office where we review
and analyze it together. For instance,
together we may find trends in foods which cause more gas or bloating,
unsuspected lactose intolerance or sensitivity, or other hints to
improve the management of this quite variable disorder. Record your
symptoms, the associated features, and the timing. Record any data,
such as blood sugar levels or blood pressures. Be Organized
– Just as with the diary above, my most successful patient
interactions include more time with me because many baseline questions
have already been answered by organized patients. Some patients
routinely bring in a list of what might be important medical information,
such as medications with their frequency and dosage, a list of allergies,
or a list of current diagnoses for which they are being treated
by other physicians. Often, we find
that a patient’s medications are being taken too frequently
or are not being taken with enough frequency to improve the symptoms.
Additionally, many drugs may cause side effects which may be the
sole source of your symptoms, or may interact with other drugs.
With a list of medications, we can see any drug interactions (or
possibly duplicate medications), cut the costs of medications, and
improve side effects. Be Inquisitive
– I am delighted when a patient brings with them a list of
direct questions or internet printouts. That allows them to direct
our conversation and education to specific areas of interest or
concern about their disorder. It is most disturbing to be contacted
by a patient, who has been seen in the office earlier that day,
with questions that might have been asked face to face for better
understanding. Be sure to ask
your physician if there are new therapies available or studies going
on locally in the management of your disorder, such as new drug
studies, or behavioral management studies. In addition, ask your
physician whether there are any support groups locally. This may
prompt your physician to become the medical director of such a group.
Be Interactive
– The diagnosis of a disorder, once established, requires more
partnership with your physician and more personal responsibility.
Take charge of your disorder, record your symptoms, be prepared
for your doctor appointments with lists of medications and questions,
and look for other ways to manage your disorder, such as new therapies,
diets, studies, stress control groups, and support groups. If you
have difficulty remembering the conversation and teaching of your
physician, consider asking them if you could use a tape recorder
at your office appointments. In Summary –
Do your best to make the most of your all too brief interaction
with your physician. Do not let your appointment—for which
you have prepared, driven to the physician’s office (perhaps
through rush-hour traffic), waited for (yes, we know that we are
generally late), and are then ushered into the office—deteriorate
into a brief, “So how are you doing” conversation. Make
every moment count. Virginia Beach
gastroenterologist, Patricia L. Raymond M.D. FACG is an author and
consultant, who speaks to nurses and physicians through hospital
systems and medical conventions. With her company Rx For Sanity™,
she humorously leads physicians and nurses to rediscover their joy
in medicine and to learn to first “Turn Care Inward”.
Her book, “Don’t Jettison Medicine: Resuscitate Your Passion
For The Career You Loved!” is available now. Visit www.RxForSanity.com
soon for complimentary information and links to better care for
yourself and for your staff, and to subscribe to our FREE monthly
newsletter, Rx For Sanity™ eNews, with medical humor and simple tips
to enhance your life in Medicine.
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About Dr. Raymond • Speaking Topics • Articles • The Sanity Store • Sensational Free Stuff Subscribe to Passionate Health Care Newsletter Subscribe to Your Health Choice Newsletter Patricia L. Raymond, MD FACP FACG 757-547-0368 • 757-547-7727(Fax) • PLRaymond at RxForSanity.com All Rights Reserved. © 2007 Patricia L. Raymond |
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