Your relationship with your doctor is important to your health maintenance. A doctor should listen to you, inspire your confidence and treat you with courtesy and respect while giving you the information and support you need. As a partner in your health and fitness, your doctor should work alongside you to give you help and understanding of how to maintain your health. Asking your doctor the right questions strengthens the healing relationship and offers a learning opportunity regarding what will best work for your health care needs.
Get Ready
Building a successful relationship with a doctor takes time and effort. Preparing yourself before your first meeting with a new doctor will go a long way to help the interaction run smoothly and effectively. Make a list of questions and concerns ahead of time to take with you to the appointment. If you have many questions, get a consultation appointment. It is a valuable way to get information to make a decision about how to best proceed.
Take Notes
The doctor is a health care service provider, and you should be a conscientious consumer. Try to get as much information as you can during your appointment. Take notes. Ask if you can get written instructions and information about your diagnosis and treatment. Ask what books, brochures or recorded materials are available. As Dr. Michael Roizen, coauthor of "You: The Smart Patient: An Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment," writes, "Patients usually only retain about 30 percent of what they hear in the office." When you are sorting out your treatment plan, you will be glad to have the written information.
Get Information
Taking the time to introduce yourself may make it easier for you to ask about the doctor's training and credentials. Find out whether your doctor keeps up with the latest medical technologies. Ask about your doctor's philosophy and treatment approach. Ask about what happens when your doctor is not available. Who are the on-call personnel and what are they like? If the doctor works in a group practice, would some office visits be with one of the practice partners? If there were an emergency or a problem after-hours, how would you contact the doctor? Does the doctor set aside time for phone calls or email questions? Does the doctor ever make house calls? What is the charge for these services?
Get Clarity
Speak up right in the beginning of your visit. Do not wait until near the end to talk about the issues that are on your mind. Otherwise, you or your doctor may feel rushed and distracted by the time you get to the questions on your list. Be as thorough and specific as you can in inquiring about symptoms, diagnoses, tests and treatments. Be willing to ask for clarification about what is wrong with you and what you need to do to get better. If your doctor uses unfamiliar medical terms, ask for a further explanation.
Afterward
During your visit, the doctor should ensure that most questions have been answered to your satisfaction. The doctor should be available afterward to answer follow-up questions. When the visit is over, you should think about your first meeting with your new doctor. What was your gut reaction? Did you feel comfortable with the doctor? Did the doctor treat you in a professional manner? Was the doctor able to give your questions enough time and consideration? Did the doctor address most of your concerns? If you feel there was a problem or obstacle, you could discuss it further or you could look at other options for your health care.
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