Here are some tips from Dr. Marissa Weiss on building a good doctor-patient relationship from the patient side. Thanks to Dr. Rich’s Covert Rationing blog for the link.
- Greet the doctor–or introduce yourself if this is a new physician–with a professional handshake.
- Let your doctor know what is on your mind and how the doctor can be most helpful.
- Before you get to the doctor’s office, write down your symptoms and the questions you have for the doctor.
- Record the doctors answers to your questions. This can either be done by taking notes, using a tape recorder (ask the doctor’s permission first) or bring a friend or family member to take notes for you.
- Sit close enough to the doctor to feel like you are having a personal conversation, but not too close to make the situation uncomfortable for either of you.
- Feel free to ask the doctor to repeat him/herself if you did not understand what he/she said.
- Make sure that when you receive a test result, that your other doctors are informed of these results.
- Ask yourself what do you value in a doctor. Be sure that your doctors satisfy your needs.
- Go to a doctor who likes being a doctor. These physicians will make the extra effort to provide you with the best care.
1 comment
November 7, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Akshay Kapur
What a great post. More , lots more educational vignettes like these are needed! Most of the time, “consumer-driven health care” passes the burden of cost onto the consumer. If we’re going to bear the cost (which maybe we should), we should get involved with our own care. Somebody else doesn’t make you healthy, you do!