Talking to Your Health Care Provider

Your relationship with your health care provider should be a partnership. Both of you have responsibilities and needs. How well you and your health care provider talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. This means asking questions if your provider's explanations or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if your health care provider doesn't ask, and letting your provider know when a treatment isn't working, and telling your provider about any new treatment or medicines you have tried since the last visit. It also means letting your provider know about any difficulties you have with the office staff or routines, or about really positive experiences with the staff. The best way to make sure the partnership works is to have good communication.

Although your health care provider might like to talk with you at length, each patient is given a limited amount of time. When making an appointment, tell the receptionist why you are making the appointment so enough time can be planned for you to meet with your provider. To make the best use of your time, stick to the points you want to discuss. To get the most out of an office visit, it helps to make a list of things you want to talk about.

• Always bring in a complete list of all medicines you are using, including any nonprescription medicines, herbal remedies, and other alternative therapies. Tell your provider if you are taking medicines in a different way or different amount from the prescription label.
• Take notes.
• Get written or recorded information to take home with you.
• Talk to other members of the health care team. Nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and occupational or physical therapists, play an active role in your health care. They may be able to take more time with you than your primary care physician.

Asking questions is key to getting what you want from the visit. If you don't ask questions, your health care provider may think that you understand and you don't want more information. Medical words may sound like a foreign language to you, and many providers forget to translate. Ask questions when you don't know the meaning of a word (like aneurysm, hypertension, or infarct) or when instructions are not clear (like how to take your medicines). It may help to repeat what you think your provider means in your own words and ask, "Is this correct?" If you are worried about cost, say so.

Questions your provider will ask you about your symptoms:

• What exactly are your symptoms?
• How long have they been going on?
• Are the symptoms constant? If not, when do you have them?
• Are there symptoms that occur together? When?
• Do the symptoms affect your daily activities? Which ones? How?
• What have you tried to treat your symptoms? Are they better or worse?

If your symptom is pain, then you may be asked:

• Is the pain new?
• How you would describe the quality of the pain in your own words? What does it feel like to you?
• How intense is the pain right now? At it's worst? At it's best?

Questions you can ask about prevention:

• Should I get a flu shot, pneumonia shot, tetanus shot, or other shots?
• How often should I have tests to screen for cancer?
• Would changing my diet or exercise habits help me avoid specific diseases?

Questions to ask about medical tests:

• What will we know from the test?
• How will I find out the results? How long will it take to get the results?
• If I don't hear anything about my tests, what should I do?
• What does the test involve? How should I prepare?
• Are there any risks or side effects?

Questions to ask about a diagnosis:

• What may have caused this condition? Will I have it all my life?
• How is this condition treated? What will be the long-term effects on my life?
• How can I learn more about it?

Questions to ask about treatment:

• How soon should treatment start? How long will it last?
• Are other treatments possible?
• How much will the treatment cost? Will my insurance cover it?
• Are there any risks associated with the treatment?

Questions to ask about medicines:

• What are the common side effects? What should I watch out for?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Are there foods, drugs, or activities I should avoid while taking this medicine?
• Can you prescribe twice the dose so I can use a pill-splitter to take one-half pill and save money? Are there any risks doing this?

Questions to ask about changing your habits:

• How will this change benefit me?
• Do you have any reading material on this topic?
• Are there support groups or community services that might help me?

It is tempting to say what you think your health care provider wants to hear, for example, that you smoke less or eat a healthier diet than you really do. While this is natural, it's not in your best interest. Your health care provider can give you the best treatment only if you say what is really going on. Your provider needs to know what's working and what's not. He or she can't read your mind, so it is important for you to speak up.

Sometimes it helps to ask your health care provider to write down anything you are afraid you might forget, such as the name of the condition you have. Ask if there are places you can get more information.

You should feel comfortable enough with your health care provider to bring up issues that may seem personal or embarrassing. This includes sexual, emotional, and other personal issues. Health care providers are used to talking about these matters and will try to ease your discomfort. Keep in mind that these topics concern many people. If something is important to you, you should bring it up.

As you get older, it is important to understand that problems with memory, depression, sexual function, and incontinence are not normal parts of aging. Let your health care provider know if you are getting a divorce, have experienced the death of someone close, or are experiencing any other major events in your life. Physical health and emotional well-being are tied together.

Remember that your health care provider is there to help you. If you have any problems with the treatment you get from your provider or his or her staff, it is important to talk about it. If you feel you have repeatedly tried to work with a health care provider and it is not working out, you may need to contact the customer service department at your insurance company. Your health is important, so you should find the right people to work with you to take care of it.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File GEN4430F.HTM Release 9.0/2006

Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.