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To deal with your doctor

It is for your health or that of your children. Do not be intimidated by your physician. Ask him all the questions that concern you. Sometimes if necessary, clearly express your doubts with your doctor. Indeed, call your doctor himself in question. A good doctor, worried by his patient, who wishes him well, appreciates that his patient wants to take responsability. The good doctor always encourages his patient to be a co-decision maker and active partner in his treatment. If you are well informed, courteous, and express your concerns clearly and with persistence, your doctor must be ready to discuss your case more in detail with you. If your doctor says something to you that you do not understand, ask him to explain it so that you understand.

To maximize the time with your physician, here are some things you can do in advance of your visit:

Define your goals: What do you want from the doctor? A complete check up? A consultation on a specific problem? Tell the receptionist so she can schedule appropriately.

Organize your symptoms and make a list of questions.

Get your medical records from previous physicians. Be familiar with your family history.

Make a list of medications you're taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Know the dosages.

Alert your Doctor to any special concerns you have by calling before the visit. If you have questions about drug intercactions, for instance, your doctor will be ready to address them when you arrive.

Questions to ask your physician

Use this list as a guideline when you see your doctor:

Diagnosis: What's wrong, what has caused it, and how serious is it?

Tests: What tests do you recommend, and what is the purpose?

Results: How will I find out about the results? Will I be advised if nothing is wrong, or only if something needs attention?

Options: What treatment choices do I have?

Medications: What are my choices? What are the side effects, and how will it interact with other prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs? What's the dosage and frequency? Should I take with or without food, or avoid alcohol?

Doctor's orders: What activities do I need to avoid? Am I contagious? Do I need a follow up visit? Should I watch for anything special?

My questions: Jot down things you want to discuss so you don't forget them, but try not to overwhelm the doctor with a "laundry list". And don't leave the doctor's office until you are clear on all thoses questions!

Medical journal

Do not hesitate to take notes or make a medical journal for you and each one of your children. Note following information there:

Your medical history (anamnesis) and that of your parents. Nearly 95 % of diagnosis is the history. The quality and the advice you get from your physician depends on the quality and amount of information he obtains from you.

Names and specialities of your physicians.

Symptoms and signs which led you to consult.

Paraclinical examinations results, such as laboratory tests, radiographies etc...

Drugs that you were prescribed.

Surgery undergone.

Instructions of your physician.

Vaccines which you received.

One of each one diagnostic of your ailments.

You can keep in the same file, doctors and hospitals invoices, insurance contract (after having read it well attentively), instructions sheets contained in drug packaging etc...

Since health plans, health networks, HMO physicians and too many health insurances are limited in type and number of their services for patients, be persistent: to obtain answer will more and more often require another go in your primary care physician office, or a telephone conversation. If your doctor recommends a large surgical operation, a major treatment or an invasive diagnostic investigation to you, therefore dangerous or expensive, it is your right to require a second opinion from another physician. Nowadays, the majority of doctors understand such a need, if it comes from patient himself. If your physician resists, insists politely, or addresses you to another doctor. Then claim your medical file, which belongs to you, in order to take it to this other doctor.

What to do when your physicians disagree?

You have gotten a second opinion before undergoing surgery or any other risky medical procedure. But what if the opinions differ?

• Get a third opinion. If you see three doctors and two recommend a similar treatment approach, it is probably the right decision.

• Find out which doctor does the procedure most often. A successful outcome for a procedure, and a better informed opinion, are directly related to how many procedures a physician perform.

• Compare credentials. Physicians who are affiliated with a university teaching hospital, are often more knowledgeable about the latest scientific studies, pros and cons of new treatments and other factors affecting your treatment.

• Consider always the less agressive option. Unless you are facing an emergency, it could be better to take a wait-and-see approach. Here is the exception: physicians affiliated with university hospitals tend to make less conservative recommendations. If they recommend immediate surgery or other aggressive treatment, it is usually because research and their own experience show it to be the best, or unfortunately sometimes, they are more interested by your private insurance

• Trust your instincts. If you have gotten different opinions from two or more physicians, and all seem equally qualified, go with the person you trust and feel most confortable with.