To Your Health
Communication Tips for Healthy Patient-Doctor Relationships
Perhaps you've seen the commercial on television. A man bares his soul to his therapist and the therapist responds in a foreign language. The patient, of course, looks confused. The commercial announcer goes on to compare this exchange to the communication between a client and his stockbroker. The message? Both relationships require clear and effective communication.
Unfortunately, many patients view doctors as authority figures whose decrees must not be questioned. Some patients avoid asking questions because they don't want to appear ignorant or because they think their concerns aren't important enough to warrant the doctor's time and attention. Some perceive their doctors as aloof, hurried or impatient. No matter the reason, encounters with their doctors have left many patients, like the patient in the commercial, dazed and bewildered.
The good news is that patients are beginning to assume their proper role as health care consumers who have a right to participate in their own treatment. At the same time, increasing demand for health care services has left many doctors overworked and stretched thin. So how can you, the patient, overcome old attitudes and habits to establish an appropriate consumer-provider relationship with your physician?
Try the following tips for more effective and efficient communication. You'll gain peace of mind and critical understanding - and your doctor will thank you, too!
• Before you call or visit the doctor, make a list of everything you want to discuss. Note all the specifics you can think of - when the problem started, how much discomfort you're experiencing and any remedies you've attempted on your own.
• For prescription refills, call several days before you run out of your medication, and have the name and telephone number of your pharmacy available.
• Don't allow fear or embarrassment to get in the way of good communication with your doctor. Trust is essential. If you wish to discuss a confidential matter, ask the doctor not to note the discussion in your chart.
• Speak up if you have questions for the doctor. There are no stupid questions and you have the right to understand your diagnosis and treatment options.
• If you are taking multiple medications, keep an accurate and up-to-date list with you at all times. Note the name, dosage and how often you take the medicine. In an emergency situation or a routine appointment, a quick review of your current medications will alert the doctor to possible drug interactions before s/he prescribes a new medicine.
• If you have a chronic medical condition, ask your doctor what constitutes an emergency for you and when s/he wants to be contacted regarding your symptoms.
• When you place a call to your doctor, ask the receptionist or assistant when you might expect a return call. Then keep the line free and make sure you are reachable at the number you leave for the doctor.
• Ask your doctor if s/he is willing to communicate with you via email. While some doctors resist using email, others have embraced this technology as the most efficient way to keep in touch with their patients. (Caution: NEVER use email in an emergency.)
• When dealing with serious illness, consider bringing a friend or family member to your doctor appointments with you. In times of crisis, your emotions may make it difficult to hear and absorb what the doctor is telling you. Your advocate can serve as a second pair of ears and the mere presence of a loved one will be comforting.
• Doctors are humans. If your doctor occasionally seems abrupt or distracted, give him a break - he may be having a bad day. But if a consistent pattern of arrogant or authoritarian behavior interferes with your communication, it could be time to find another doctor.
Remember - communication is the key to building a successful health care partnership with your doctor.
