Conditions & Treatments, Health & Wellness
Engaging With Your Doctor – What You Should Ask During An Appointment
By engaging with and talking to your doctor, you will get the most out of your medical appointments. When you collaborate together, you will better understand your condition, and in the end, you’ll experience better health.
A productive way to engage with your doctor is to ask good questions during your appointment. Instead of just listening to everything said, it is vital to take an active role to get a better understanding of your condition.
Hopefully, you’ve brought in a list with your medical history, prescriptions and some questions, but you’ll need to actively communicate one-on-one throughout the appointment. Here are several specific topics and things you should ask about each:
Diagnosis
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with any condition, you probably have countless questions about what to do next. Although you can search online, the information may not always be reliable. Additionally, your doctor will know better what you specifically need. Here are things to ask about your diagnosis:
- What exactly is my condition?
- What caused it?
- Is there another condition that can be causing these symptoms?
- How will it affect my home and work life?
- What are some of the symptoms I should watch out for?
- What are some short- and long-term effects of my condition?
Testing
Upon diagnosis, there oftentimes will be further testing. You might need further blood tests, X-rays, or an MRI, just to name a few. If your doctor suggests more testing, you may want to ask some of the following:
- What will these new tests tell about my condition?
- How safe and accurate are these tests?
- Is there an alternative to this test?
- When will I know the test results?
- Are there any side effects from the tests?
Treatment
No matter what your condition, there will most often be some sort of treatment. Whether it is medication, therapy or something else, your doctor will create a specific treatment plan. It’s best for you to know how it will fully impact your health and life. Here are some things to ask about treatments:
- What are my treatment options?
- How long will the treatment take?
- What is the approximate cost of the treatment?
- What are some of the risks and side effects I might expect?
- How will my job and life be affected by this treatment?
Surgery
Sometimes, no matter what treatments your doctor may prescribe, you may still need surgery. Most doctors generally don’t want to operate until it’s absolutely necessary, but here are some things to ask if your doctor suggests surgery.
- Why do I need surgery or are there alternatives?
- What are the risks and costs of the surgery?
- How long will my life be affected after the surgery?
- How long will I be in the hospital and for me to recover?
- What are your qualifications for performing this surgery?
Follow up
No matter what stage you are in your condition or treatment, there is often a need to come back to see this doctor. You may need to be referred on to see a specialist. There may also be something you need to do yourself. Here are a few topics to ask so that you are sure what to expect once you leave this appointment?
- If I need a follow up appointment, when will that be?
- If you are referred to a specialist, ask why that is the best alternative?
- What will my costs be to see the specialist?
- Will you be in contact with my specialist and can I still contact you for advice?
- Do I need to take any precautions that would further injure me or infect others?
To understand more about how to engage with your doctor for more successful appointments, visit cfah.org.
Sources
http://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/index.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13683
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