If you are my age or older you can probably remember those good old days when you could step into your doctors office and spend a good thirty minutes to a hour talking with him/her about your concerns. Unfortunately today the time slots on a physician's schedule generally will have two if not three patients schedule at the same time and they are generally 15 minute slots, except in the case of a new patient that might be given a 30 minute slot. This change has occured for several reasons. If a patient doesn't show up for an appointment...that is lost money so to make up for this the office double books slots. The need for in-office technology - more costly office and diagnostic equipment, drives the operational cost up. And more importantly...the all loving insurance industry dictating what is covered and what will be paid for, has changed what is needed to survive as a practice.
So...you ask how do you become your best advocate? The first step is to understand that it now your responsibility to be proactive in your healthcare. Begin a notebook (preferably one that has at least one pocket) that you keep all your medical information that you can remember in. This will be invaluable to not only you but also your provider.
Start your notebook by listing all of your providers names, address and phone numbers. This includes anything from your podiatrist to your brain surgeon if you had one. You want all information concerning any food, agent (tress, mold, dust as an example) or medication allergies. Name all medications you are currently taking and their dosage, medications you have taken in the past, and if you have had any reactions to any of the included medications. Include, all that you remember, sugeries, their dates, and if you had any complications with them. If you can also remember where they were performed that is good information as well in the event you need to request the record. Recent screening exams (mammogram, chest x-ray, blood work, etc.), their results if available and where they were performed. If you have had recent immunizations or vaccinations and the dates they were given if known. A family tree of any diseases (mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, aunts, or uncle) is good to help with your ongoing monitoring (example if you have a strong family history of diabetes your physician might order more extensive testing for someone who did not). Lastly write down questions that you have for the doctor prior to your visit. It is not uncommon that once you walk into the office because of the time restraints you forget something that was important that you wanted to ask.
Don't let the thought of someone having to wait cut short your visit if you really need the time to understand anything that was covered in your visit.
But at the same time don't be one of those patients that wants to spend time talking about something unrelated to your medical care. If you need to just talk...go home and call up a friend:-)
Posted By: Belinda Anderson
Sunday, November 16th 2008 at 10:30PM
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