Date post: | 12-Jun-2015 |
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Health & Medicine |
Upload: | health-education-library-for-people |
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HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
Your Relationship With Your Doctor
• Your relationship with your doctor, including how well you talk with each other, affects your care
• A good relationship — where you and your doctor share information and work together to make the best decisions about your health — will result in the best care.
• HOW ?
Be Prepared
The best way to make the most of your limited time is to come to your appointment prepared:
• Write down all the questions • Make and bring a list of symptoms. You might want to
research your condition at the library or on the Internet • Bring a list of all the medicines you take. • Arrive early • Bring your medical records/
insurance details
TESTS
• Must I have tests? • What tests do I need and why? • What do the tests involve? • How do I prepare for the tests? • When will I know the test results? • Will my insurance cover the cost of the
tests? • Will I have to take the tests again?
TREATMENT
• What are my treatment choices?
• What are the benefits and risks of each treatment?
• What are the side effects?
• How good is each treatment?
• Which treatment is most common for my condition?
• What do I do if treatment fails?
MEDICATION
• What kind of medication(s) must I take? For how long?
• What does the drug do? Will there be any side effects?
• What should I do if I have side effects? • Can I take a generic version of the drug? • Will the medicine interact with any I am already
taking? • Should I avoid any kind of food or activity while
taking this medicine?
FOLLOW-UP
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• Do I need a follow-up visit?
DON'T WITHHOLD INFORMATION
• The more information you share, the better the doctor will be able to figure out what's wrong and how to treat you.
• Don't make the doctor guess.
BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU
• A companion also could help you relax, remind you of questions you forgot to ask, and help you remember what the doctor said
FOLLOW UP
• You might forget to ask a question, even if you wrote it down - or if you think of a new question, call the office right away
• If the doctor wants you to come back for a follow up visit, be sure to set and keep the appointment.
SPEAK UP
• If you don't understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it again.
• Don't be embarrassed or ashamed to bring up sensitive topics.
To Tell My Doctor
My History
• I am here today, because………• I first noticed it when I was at …….. doing ….. on ……….• It is (describe) ……………..• It happened before in …..........
About your problem
• What’s wrong with me
• How do you know
• What caused this problem
To Tell My Doctor
My History
• I also have …….• Relatives who have similar problems are …• The medications I am taking are …….• I am allergic to ………
To Tell My Doctor
My Feelings
• I feel this is because of ………• I am worried that ………• I would like you to …….
Your Doctor Cannot Read Your Mind !
The More Organized You Are,
The Easier It Is for Him To Help You !