10 Ways to Effective Communication With Your Doctor

10 Ways to Effective Communication With Your Doctor
One of the most important things in taking care of yourself
is understanding your doctor's advice well enough to carry
it out. While that sounds simple enough, here in the
United States studies have shown that approximately 90
million people don't understand their doctor's advice well
enough to follow it at home. And that can be dangerous,
especially for the diabetic. For the diabetic, caring for
their illness is a big job. There are lots of things to
remember and lots of things to do. And just about the time
you think you have it all figured out, you go in for your
routine check-up. And wouldn't you know it! When your
tests results come back, you get a phone call from your
doctor's office. You are told to change meds or take meds
at different times, etc. It's no wonder we sometimes get
confused.

However, not having a good understanding of your doctor's
orders, whatever your illness, can be more than just
confusing. Studies have shown that those who don't fully
understand their doctor's orders are almost twice as likely
to die within a five year period than those who do have a
good understanding! So it is vitally important to leave
your doctor's appointment with a clear understanding of
what you should do. And remember this, doctors are used to
medical terms and sometimes their advice becomes rote as
they repeat it over and over to their patients. It is up
to you to make sure you leave their office with all your
questions answered and any confusion explained away. Here
are some tips to help you as you work to increase your
"health literacy":

1. Ask your doctor or health care professional to explain
any medical terms you do not understand.

2. If you receive a diagnoses you never heard of, ask the
doctor to explain exactly what it is and to spell it for
you. When I was diagnosed with leukocytoclastic
vasculitis, I had no idea what that was. I asked my doctor
to explain it and write it down for me. He wrote the words
down for me then told me it was a very rare disease. He
then excused himself and came back into the room with a
large medical book. He opened the book to my disease and
read to me from his medical book. This wouldn't have
happened if I hadn't asked. But he was glad to do it when
he realized how important that was to me.

3. If they speak softly and you have trouble hearing, tell
them so. Make sure you hear everything they say!

4.Many of our health care professionals are from foreign
countries. If you have a problem understanding their
accent, don't be embarrassed about it. Ask to have a
nurse, etc in the room to explain anything you have trouble
fully understanding.

5. Many times our doctors seem to be in a hurry. Remember
that you are as important as the next patient. If they
rush through your instructions, ask them to slow down.
Don't be embarrassed to ask them to repeat something.

6. Ask questions. There is no such thing as a "dumb
question" where your health is concerned.

7. Ask for information pamplets, etc. if you don't fully
understand your illness. Or ask your doctor to write down
information resources for you.

8. Take a family member or trusted friend with you and ask
them to listen carefully and make notes for you if needed.

9. Ask your doctor for an explanation of tests results
even if they are normal. What is "normal" and what does it
mean in your case?

10. When your doctor gives you a prescription, have him/her
explain to you what it is, why you need to take it, and
clear directions for taking it. Then make sure the
information on the prescription matches what your doctor
told you. This is just an outline of ten ways to help you
better understand what transpires when you visit your
doctor or health care professional. You can probably add
others. The main thing to remember is this. You are given
one life. Make sure you take care of it. And that means
making sure you and your doctor communicate effectively.

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For more of Linda's writings and recipes, go to
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