1 how to talk to your doctor marj bernstein & cathie duncan bridges program
TRANSCRIPT
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How to Talk To Your Doctor
Marj Bernstein & Cathie DuncanBridges Program
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Goals
• What is a primary care doctor?
• How can I make the most out of my doctor visit?
• Decision making with your doctor
• What is your responsibility?
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Who are Primary Care Doctors?
• Family Practice• Internal Medicine• Ob/Gyn• Pediatricians• Physician Assistants• Nurse Practitioners
• Not a specialist
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What Does Your PCP Need to Know?
• Your medical history
• Your surgical history
• Your medications
• Your home and family situation
• Your values, religion and beliefs
• Your end of life wishes
• Any barriers that prevent you
from affording or accessing care
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How Can You Get the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit?
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Things to Do
• Prepare • Prioritize• Be Clear• Be Honest• Ask Questions
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Prepare
• Time is limited
• Most appointment slots are 10-20 minutes long
• Providers have more pressures on them than ever before
• Insurance companies have decreased reimbursements
• They must see more patients
• Overhead is increasing
• Electronic medical records are slowing some down and changing the nature of the patient-physician relationship
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Prepare• Take information with you to include:
• Prior medical records• Insurance card• Test results• Medication list or medications in bottle• Everything you are taking including herbal
supplements• Contact information for other doctors
• Make a list of your questions or symptoms
• Bring glasses or hearing devices so you can hear and see
• Consider bringing a friend or family member
• Ask for an interpreter if necessary
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Sample Questions• Why is this test necessary? What will it tell us that we
don't already know?
• Will the results significantly alter any treatment plans?
• When will the results be ready? Should I call you for them, or will you call me?
• What is my exact diagnosis? What's the cause of my problem?
• How long will I be sick?
• How long before I'll see improvement?
• What treatments are used for my condition? Which is best for me, and why?
• What does the research show about this treatment?
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Sample Questions• Is there any research on the horizon about treatments for
my condition?
• What can I expect from this treatment, based on your experience?
• What are the side effects of this medication? Will it interact with alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs or supplements I take?
• Are there any alternative treatments appropriate for me to try, either before or along with conventional treatment?
• How will these changes help my disorder? How soon should I expect to see an effect?
• How drastic do the changes have to be to produce real results?
• Do you have any tips that would make these changes easier?
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Prioritize• List your concerns
• What is the most important to you?
• What is the point of your visit?
• List 3-4 significant issues that you want to discuss• Chronic medical problems?
• Medications?
• Test results?
• Concerns about health?
• Visit for routine screening?
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Be ClearDescribe your symptoms:
“A departure from normal function or feeling that is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality”
Everything is relative…
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Symptoms
• Bodily Location Where does it hurt?
• Quality What kind of pain? Sharp/dull
• Quantity How often, how much?
• Timing When did it start?Does it come and go?
• Settings What brings it on?
• Changes What makes it better or worse?
• Other symptoms What else happens when you have this pain?
Consider keeping a symptom diary to help you remember these details
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Be Honest
• It is important for you to answer your doctor’s questions honestly
• Although some things may be uncomfortable to talk about, it helps the doctor understand your problems better
• Don’t tell them what you think they want to hear
• Voice your concerns• What do you think is happening?
• What are you concerned about?
• Do you have problems paying for medicine, co-pays or getting to specialist appointments?
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Ask Questions When…
• You don’t understand the meaning of a word or phrase
• Instructions aren’t clear
• You aren’t sure why is test is being ordered
• You don’t understand what needs to be done to do the test correctly
• You aren’t sure how to take a medication, what it is for and what side effects you might have
• Ask questions during the visit, not at the end prior to the physician leaving the room
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Helping you Understand and Remember
• Asking questions helps you understand and remember instructions
• Take notes
• Repeat back what you understand
• Ask for instructions in writing if necessary
• Talk to other members of the team, like nurses
• Call or e-mail the office if you find later that you don’t understand what was discussed, or what to do
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Making Decisions• Discuss choices, this is a partnership
• Discuss risks and benefits of surgery or medications
• Discuss how your values and beliefs impact your decisions
• Be honest
• It is ok to ask for a second opinion
• It is ok to discuss decisions with your family or friends at a later time
• It is ok to challenge your physician
• It is ok to do research before or after
a visit to help you make a decision, with
caution
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Does This Have Anything to do with Health Literacy?
• Ask yourself these questions:• Are you having trouble reading the information given?
• Do you understand the terms and instructions?
• Is there a language barrier?
• Is there an information or base knowledge deficit?
• Are you able to communicate with your provider?
Basically, are you getting what you need from the visit in a way that makes sense to you.
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What To Do If You Don’t Have a PCP?
• For urgent or emergency problems only, use Immediate Care or the Emergency Room
• Attend free screenings or clinics
• Mission of Mercy (non-profits)
• Maryland Health Insurance Exchange: https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/
• Federal Health Insurance Exchange: https://www.healthcare.gov/
• Frederick County Health Department: 301-600-1029
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Summary
• Prepare for each visit• Bring all medications and
supplements
• Keep a list but prioritize your 3-4 major concerns
• Consider a symptom diary
• Make sure that you can see, hear and understand
• Make sure you can be understood
• Bring a family member or friend if necessary
• At the visit• Start with your top concerns
• Clearly describe your symptoms
• Be honest and open with your symptoms and concerns
• Let the doctor know if you cannot access or afford items for your health
• Make sure you know what to do before you leave the office
• Ask questions
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QUESTIONS?