When you are busy juggling various roles and responsibilities in your daily life, nagging health problems are sometimes conveniently put on a back burner.
Usually, when you’ve tried ignoring the symptoms, people resort to home-made recipes, over the counter medication or making excuses. You think of visiting a doctor only as a last resort.
However, whether you or your loved ones need to be examined, visiting a doctor is just the first step.
Prepare yourself beforehand to save time, effort and, most importantly, to get the best level of care or treatment.
You need to be honest with your doctor, listen to them patiently and ask for clarification in case you didn’t understand something so that your doctor can correctly understand your condition and give you the appropriate treatment accordingly.
A clear and honest two-way communication between the doctor and the patient is crucial.
Be Punctual
Respect the doctor’s time and other patients’ conditions by coming a little early for your appointment.
Benefits: This will save unnecessary rush and hassles of filling forms and also make your visit an organized one instead of a disorderly or chaotic affair.
Ask Questions
Instead of being embarrassed or hesitant, make an effort to ask your doctor about the prevention, symptoms, care, new medicines or self-medication, clearing doubts and generally about recovering. It helps if you tell your doctor that you want to know more.
Benefits: When you ask questions, you get to know the right dosage for medicines, general instructions about treatment and total care from diagnosis to post-treatment.
Maximize Your Time
You can take a family member or friend along who can help you communicate with your doctor in a frank and honest manner or even make a note of the points you wish to ask or clarify ahead of your appointment.
This way you will be able to utilize the appointment time optimally.
Benefits: This helps in building a healthy relationship between you and your doctor and helps you get the right information and get the maximum out of the time you get with the doctor even during the doctor’s busy schedule, regardless of whether your visit is the first time or second.
Sum up the visit
Before leaving the doctor’s, it is better to repeat the recommendations or the main points about your diagnosis or treatment.
Benefits: This will help you better understand the treatment and also help in clearing any confusion. You can even express your opinion about a test like X-ray or herbal or allopathic medicine.
Bring the Paperwork
Bring your medical insurance or healthcare policy of your organization along with previous medical records when you visit a doctor.
Benefits: In cases of pregnancy or other ailments, it is seen that patients are sometimes advised to get admitted in the hospital. Your doctor will help you coordinate with the hospital’s administrative staff if you have your papers ready.
So, communicate clearly and honestly with your doctor for the best treatment.
