Partners: You And Your Physician

How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. It takes time and effort on your part and the doctor’s part. In the past, the doctor took the lead and the patient followed.

Today, a good patient-doctor relationship is more of a partnership. You and your doctor should work as a team with all healthcare providers to solve your medical problems and keep you healthy. This means asking questions if the doctor’s explanation or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn’t ask, and letting the doctor know about your concerns about a treatment or change in your daily life.


The patient needs to take an active role in his own medical care. This becomes even more important as you age because you may have more health conditions to discuss. And, your health has a big impact on most other parts of your life.

The first step is to get ready for your doctor’s appointment:

1. Make a list of questions and concerns with the most important first.

2. Take your prescriptions or a list of prescriptions with dosages. This list includes prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal remedies.

3. Take information with you: your insurance card, the names and phone numbers of other doctors who care for you, and your medical records.

4. Bring eyeglasses and wear hearing aid if you use them.

5. Consider bringing a relative or friend for reminders and to take notes for you.

6. Bring an interpreter if your primary language is not English.

7. Tell your doctor about yourself and your habits so he can understand your medical conditions fully and recommend the best treatment choices for you.

8. Share information about your symptoms with as much detail as possible.
How often? When? Getting worse or better? How do they affect your daily life? Examples of symptoms include pain, fever, cough, lump, weight change, sleep problems.

9. If the physician wants to conduct a medical test, you might want to know the answers to these questions: Why is the test being done? What does the test involve? Are there any dangers or side-effect? When and how will you get the test results? What will you know after the test?

10. If the physician provides a diagnosis, you might ask: What may have caused this condition? Is it permanent? How is this condition treated or managed? What are the long term effects on my life? How can I learn more about this condition?

11. When the doctor prescribes a new medication, you might ask: What are the common side effects? When will the medicine begin to work? What should I do if I miss a dose? Should I take the medicine at meals or between meals? Should I drink a whole glass of water? Should I avoid any foods, drugs, or activities while taking this medicine? Will I need a refill? Keep a record of all your medications at home and accessible to a family member in an emergency.

When the doctor writes a prescription, it is important to understand the directions for taking the medication. Sometimes doctors or pharmacists use abbreviations that you see on the prescription labels. The most common abbreviations are indicated in the box below.

p.r.n as needed
a.c. before meals
q.d every day
p.c. after meals
b.i.d. twice a day
h.s. at bedtime
t.i.d. three times a day
p.o. by mouth
q.i.d. four times a day
ea. each

12. Take notes and repeat what the doctor says to you to make sure you understood his answers. Ask for written or recorded information about the medical diagnosis, if you want to know more.

Finally, the key to your understanding is your involvement in making decisions with the doctor about your treatment and prevention of medical conditions. Discuss choices that reveal the risks and benefits of each treatment plan. Also, consider your own values and circumstances when selecting an option. Will a side effect interfere with a regular activity that is important to you? Or is one treatment too expensive or not covered by your insurance? The doctor may be able to take these practical considerations in mind when recommending options of care.

If a certain disease or health condition runs in your family, the doctor may be able to recommend preventative measures. Sometimes the progress of a medical problem can be controlled by changing life habits. Could a change in your life habits help you? What are the risks of making changes? Are there support groups or community services available to help you with the medical condition?

During your next visit to your physician, remember to make good use of your time. Be honest about yourself and your habits, decide which questions are most important, stick to the point, and share your point of view about the visit in a positive way, so that every visit can become an effective tool in maintaining your health.

By: Joanne Hill

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Writer is Joanne Hill, M.S.W., author of Elder Organizer: A Journal of Information for Family Elders, in 2006. Elder Organizer is a comprehensive self-help book designed for adults ready for retirement planning or adult children helping aging parents to make important personal, medical, legal and financial decisions. For more information about the book, visit www.lifeworkspublishing.com. Ms. Hill is a member of the American Society on Aging, Nat'l Assoc Baby Boomer Women, & ICAA.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated