Posted By Golson McCracken Inc || 3-Mar-2014

Effective communication is very important to the quality of medical attention that you receive. Having your doctor understand how you feel, and you understanding the medical regimen that your doctor needs you to follow can mean the difference in your outcome.

As I review thousands of pages of medical records each week, I often note that what my clients are telling me and what appears on those pages are very different. A few tips follow that may help to make your doctor’s records better reflect your medical condition.

Your doctor is not a mind reader, so do not assume that he or she knows the following:

1. That you are no longer working, or that your medical condition is the reason.
2. That you are suffering from significant sleepiness or drowsiness when you take your medications, or that a family member is driving to your appointments because you don’t feel safe to drive when you take your medications.
3. That you no longer have health insurance, and would benefit from either a Prescription Assistance Program, or prescriptions for generic drugs.
4. That you suffer from incontinence.
5. That you have difficulty getting to your appointments due to transportation problems because you can’t drive, can’t afford a car, or can’t afford gas to get to your appointments.
6. That you cannot afford to go to physical therapy because your insurance or Medicaid will not pay for more than a few visits and that you have exceeded their quota for the year.
7. That you do not know how to read well enough to follow written instructions.

If you are having a hard time understanding your medical condition or your doctor’s advice, you may want to try some of the following suggestions.

1. Take notes while at your appointments. Bring a list of questions or concerns to your appointment.
2. Keep a log or diary of medical readings or events such as your blood sugar, blood pressure, seizures, migraine headaches, or episodes of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Bring these to your appointments.
3. Sometimes it helps to take a family member or close friend with you to your appointments. Have them take notes for you if possible.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to explain things to you. If you are unsure about an instruction or diagnosis, be sure to ask. Ask the doctor if she can have the instructions written down for you.
5. Make sure that you get a business card with your doctor’s name and phone number on it. That way if you have questions, you can refer to it later.

I hope these suggestions will prove helpful. Effective communication is very important in the doctor patient relationship, and can make a huge difference in the quality of care that you receive.