For some, it can be one of the most stressful encounters — like a visit to the dentist or being called into the principal’s office. For others, it can be a great experience, where your fears and concerns are addressed, you feel accepted just as you are and you leave with hope.
Imagine an ideal visit to the doctor.
The office is running on time. You barely have a chance to glance at the magazine rack full of up-to-date enlightening material or watch the big screen TV in the reception room with practical educational programming.
The staff is cheerful and pleasant. The medical office assistant or nurse is kind and seems to be genuinely concerned about you. You feel comfortable in sharing confidential information with her, including all the reasons you’ve come to see the doctor.
Your doctor is happy to see you and takes the time to ask how you’re doing and what’s new in your life. You go over your list of concerns and together you determine what items (if not all) can be addressed today and when unrelated or more complicated problems can be attended to.
You’re able to describe the history of your concerns and the doctor then asks you questions to help both of you to arrive at the correct diagnoses. During the examination, the doctor explains what he’s doing, what he is checking for and why.
The doctor is clear about the diagnosis or is honest in not knowing yet. Sometimes further investigations are needed to narrow a spectrum of multiple possible diagnoses (the differential diagnosis).
You feel comfortable asking questions, share in the decision-making process and agree on the treatment plan. At the close of the visit, you have a clear idea on the follow-up, what tests you’ll be doing, how you’ll be informed of results and when you should return.
To have a medical clinic always running on time may be an unattainable ideal. The nature of health and illness is of sporadic unpredictability.
Some patients’ problems are more complicated, crisis counseling may be required at any time, emergencies arise and a doctor’s day in the clinic is frequently interrupted by urgent phone calls and requests from pharmacies.
But other than the dream of always being seen on time, the essentials of the ideal medical visit are attainable and should be the norm.
What can you do to have a better visit with the doctor?
- Before the visit, prepare a complete list of your concerns. Share the list with the office staff when you’re booking and review it with them when you arrive. At the beginning of your visit, review the list with the doctor, agree on the day’s agenda and the plan to address anything that needs to be dealt with later.
- During the visit, resist the natural passive role of the patient. Ask questions and ask for clarification if the doctor lapses into technical language (that’s natural for us). If the information isn’t offered, ask about the side effects, interactions, risks and alternatives for any treatment, including prescriptions, investigations and procedures. This is what you need to make informed decisions.
- Finally, at the close of the visit, make sure you’re clear about the plan to address your concerns and to achieve your goals. Who will call you with the appointment for the specialist, procedure or test? How will you get the results? When should you book a follow-up visit?
To that end, on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., I’ll be speaking in the library of Byrne Creek Secondary School. The topic: The Patient-Doctor Relationship — Making the Most of Every Medical Visit. I’ll share some practical tips on how to work with your doctor to achieve your goals; review the key information you should know about any proposed treatment, prescription, test or procedure; outline what you should know about your medical history; and summarize important screening tests —what tests you need and when.
The presentation is sponsored by the Burnaby Division of Family Practice and is free to the public but because space is limited, register online with lcullen@divisionsbc.ca or call Leona at 604-259-4450.
Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician. For more on achieving your positive potential in health visit davidicuswong.wordpress.com.
