Make The Most Out Of Your Doctor's Visit

Did your mother ever tell you to "Speak up for yourself?" Well, she was definitely on to something. And it's especially important to take her advice in today's healthcare environment.

With tight schedules and the demands of daily life working against both you and your healthcare provider, it's important to make the most of your appointment from the start.

“Even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s important to check in regularly," said Gregory Specht, DO, a family medicine doctor with Franciscan Physician Network CityWay Family Medicine. "It’s getting a baseline of where your body is at from the perspective of your vital signs, basic screening, and blood work. I think for a lot of people, there’s this sense that if you go to the doctor, you’re going to walk away with a medication. But if you’re proactive with it, you can often prevent the need for medication by correcting something. When your car’s check engine light comes on, you get the engine checked. Let’s try to fix it before there’s a problem and something needs to be repaired. It’s the same with your health. My goal is to avoid medication if possible. The sooner we recognize an issue, the sooner we can address it and make lifestyle modifications, ideally to correct it. 

This means taking charge of your healthcare with a few tried and true strategies that even your mother would approve of.

Before Your Doctor's Appointment

Before your appointment, get organized:

• Plan ahead. What are your most important questions and concerns?
• Write down your questions, and take your list with you. Keep it focused and short, with your most important concerns at the top.
• Review your medications, and bring a list of them (including dose and how often you take them) with you.
• Consider how you're feeling now and in the recent past and the reason for your appointment. Be ready to discuss symptoms, medication side effects or other details that can help inform your healthcare provider. 

During Your Doctor's Appointment

”Patient and physician time is better spent focusing on risk factors and recommended health maintenance items that have been shown to have a clear positive effect on health,” said Nancy Gamarra Flores, MD, an internal medicine physician with Franciscan Physician Network Hammond Family Health Center. "Much of the wellness visit is based on attending to recommendations from various health-related agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). These organizations evaluate the medical literature and make evidence-based recommendations based on age and other risk factors such as smoking status and weight. These include things such as screening tests for cervical cancer (Pap smear), breast cancer (mammography), hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, colon cancer, depression and more.”

During your appointment, participate:

• If it is difficult for any reason for you to be an active participant during your office visit, bring an advocate - a family member or friend who can take notes or ask questions.
• Share information about life events, lifestyle habits or other details, as appropriate. 
• Ask your physician, nurse practitioner, medical assistant or any other healthcare provider to explain terms or anything else you don't understand during your appointment. If you have questions after your appointment, call your doctor's office or send a question through MyChart.
• Ask for a second explanation or for your doctor to repeat himself if you didn't understand.
• Repeat back information to your doctor to make sure you understand it.
• Take notes. Ask your healthcare provider to write down a term or condition on your note pad if you can’t spell it.
• Get involved in the discussion. Ask about choices, side effects, next steps and recommendations. The wellness visit is also the time to discuss recommended vaccinations.
• Ask how you should contact your healthcare provider if you have questions after you leave the office.
• Ask your healthcare provider to direct you to current and accurate sources for more information about your health or health issue.
• If you run out of time before you get your questions answered, ask if someone else in the office (a medical assistant, for example) can help, or ask to schedule a follow-up appointment. If you have questions after your appointment, call your doctor's office or send a question through MyChart.
• Find out how to access your medical records and keep track of test results, medications, immunizations and appointments.

After Your Doctor's Appointment

After your appointment, review what you’ve learned:

• Review any prescriptions or written recommendations you take home with you. If you don’t understand something, call your doctor's office or send a question through MyChart.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and any medication instructions exactly.
• Use other resources, like pharmacists, to learn more about medications or medication-related issues.
• Keep any follow-up appointments your healthcare provider recommends.

“Healthcare is about relationships,” Dr. Gamarra Flores said. “When you take charge of your health by clearly and honestly communicating your needs, you can help your healthcare provider give you the best care.”