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How to Speak with Your Physician

How to Speak with Your Physician. Balancing life’s issues. Objectives. Trends The New Doctor-Patient Relationship Doctor-Patient Dynamics Know Your Family History Starting a Health Journal Working with your pharmacist Tape recording Discussing difficult topics Resources. Trends.

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How to Speak with Your Physician

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  1. How to Speak with Your Physician Balancing life’s issues

  2. Objectives • Trends • The New Doctor-Patient Relationship • Doctor-Patient Dynamics • Know Your Family History • Starting a Health Journal • Working with your pharmacist • Tape recording • Discussing difficult topics • Resources

  3. Trends Medicine once was a cottage industry, now physicians are now more often salaried through networks or HMOs • Pros • You get more resources • More coordinated care may keep cost down • Team approach • Access to specialists • Patient empowered to be in control of health care they receive. • Cons • Intimate relationship lost • No more house calls • Less likely you will see the same physician • Retail hours – no more getting sick at night • You must keep your own health history

  4. The New Doctor-Patient Relationship Longing for the Marcus Welby, MD and Dr. Kildare days? We see our doctors more often Doctors see many more patients - visits are shorter Many are part of a large group practices Responsibility for your health care is your responsibility You and your physician must work as a team –

  5. Doctor-Patient Dynamics • Doctors may: • Talk more than listen • Focus on only physical and not emotional health • Provide general information without explaining more complicated medical information • Patients may: • Not follow doctors instructions • Not discuss supplement s or othertreatments they take on their own • Be demanding

  6. Before • Know your family history and your health history • Have a written record of your full medical history • Be prepared to give specific details about symptoms you are experiencing not what you think your diagnosis is. • Instead of …“I think I have a brain tumor” • Be specific …“ I have been having bad headaches in the morning in my temples.” • List all medications and supplements or remedies you are taking. • Be informed – do some of your own reading or research if you know you have a specific illness or condition.

  7. During • Don’t’ try an remember everything – take notes. • Ask questions if the doctor uses term you don’t understand. • Accept realistic goals and treatment options • Understand the good and bad effects of each treatment • Always ask if there are other options • Find out the what, when and where for follow-up treatment or visits if necessary.

  8. After • Follow-up • If you physician requests tests or screenings make sure you do them. • If something is not working, or does not seem right have a way to communicate that to your doctor. • If your doctors asks you to call in a week to report how you are doing, make sure you do so.

  9. Know Your Family History It is important to know your family’s medical history in theses areas: • Cancer • Heart disease • Diabetes • Asthma • Arthritis • Mental illness • High blood pressure • High cholesterol • Stroke • Kidney disease • Alcoholism or other substance abuse • Birth defects • Vision loss • Hearing loss • Learning disabilities • Mental retardation • Miscarriages or stillbirths

  10. Starting a Health Journal • What is a Health Journal? • A complete record of your health • Documents treatments, surgeries, allergies, medications • All important dates • Why is it helpful? • Every time you visit your doctor or see a specialist you will have a full accurate record of treatment. • Sometimes recalling times and details is difficult if you are in a stressful situation. • If a family member is incapacitated and written history is helpful to the care-giver or family member. A sample health journal can be found at: https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/fhh-web/home.action

  11. Working with Your Pharmacist Try to use one pharmacist to fill prescriptions. They are able to alert you to drug interactions if you are taking more than one. Discuss taking supplements or herbal remedies to make sure they will not affect or interact with your prescribed medications.

  12. Tape Recording • When to tape record a conversation with physician: • For complex issues • For emotional issues • Difficult to listen and take notes • Recordings allow you to share with family members who cannot be there • Ask permission

  13. Discussing Difficult Topics Ask the questions for which you really want to know the answers Practice talking about end of life decisions Discuss which family members you will allow to be present and which ones you would prefer not to be present Make a list of the hardest medical topics for you to talk about ( death, sexual dysfunction, goriness…)

  14. Resources www.familydoctor.org www.ihealthrecord.org – (Google based) www.myphr.com, sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association. www.americanheart.org

  15. How to Speak with Your Physician Balancing life’s issues

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