ArticlesReader.com Menu
Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup
Search the articles

Articles Main Categories
Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing
Subscribe
Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Enter your name

Enter your email

Syndicate

















Related Products
Home::Alternative Medicine

Are You Wasting Time and Money at Doctor Visits?

Author : Katherine Martin
Tips for a Better Doctor Visit



1. Have as many medical records as possible with you to document your medical condition, especially for a new visit or a consult. Go by the hospital, lab or other doctor’s office and get copies. This saves the doctor time and sometimes even avoids an extra official call.



2. Bring in the actual bottles of prescriptions. While lists are helpful, the bottles reveal how many are prescribed at a time, dosage, and if there are any refills left. There is no more guessing about the “little blue pill.” With so many generics the same drug can show up as many different shapes and sizes depending on the manufacturer. Now you can both be on the same page when talking about a specific medication. I am also surprised at the many errors on the bottles by the pharmacist.



3. Create a list of questions/requests before your visit. In fact, it would be ideal to tell the person making the appointment what areas you need to discuss. This is not the time to say its “personal.” We assume it is all personal in a medical office. It helps us be prepared in scheduling, equipment, and assigning the proper room. Believe it or not, we have heard most of your problems before. Of course if it is extremely sensitive in nature than just tell the receptionist how much time you will need to discuss your personal problem.



4. Try to keep to one system of the body per visit unless a complete physical is done. Most office visits are geared to blocks of 15 minutes. Usually this is adequate to cover most simple problems such as a rash, upper respiratory infection, and urinary infection just as examples. The longer you have had the problem or the vaguer the symptoms such as abdominal pain or dizziness expect to spend more time. Don’t hesitate to ask for more time. We would rather know ahead of time what your expectations are.



5. Ask for prescription refills, notes for work or school, and forms to fill out at the beginning of the office visit rather than at the end. Of course, a friendly reminder is always good if it has been overlooked when you leave. You can always give a list of medications needing refills to the nurse at the beginning of the visit too. Again, communication helps everyone get their needs met.



6. Be realistic in your expectations. If you start the discussion on a topic that is unrelated to the original problem on the schedule and want some answers, this leaves less time available for other problems. For example, if you are due to have a pap smear and gynecological exam but start with a headache complaint that requires a physical and full history, don’t expect all of it to be done in one visit. Always prioritize what is most important for that day. Sometimes problems become more important, symptoms severe since the original appointment or follow up was made. Just tell the nurse or doctor things have changed as soon as possible. That way we can stay on schedule and you can get the most important problem addressed.



7. Don’t leave the office without telling someone if you aren’t satisfied with your service. Most doctors and staff assume everything is going ok unless told. It is easier to fix a problem, answer a question or complaint as soon as possible while the information is still fresh. If you are uncomfortable talking or can’t stay, write a quick note. Many areas are sensitive and highly charged emotionally. It is easy to misunderstand directions, reasons for tests, or the intent of the doctor’s remarks. We really do care how you feel.



8. It is easier to process your visit on time and handle paperwork if all of your information is correct. Tell the receptionist if you have moved, have a new telephone number, or changed medical insurance. Always bring your insurance card with you.



9. I know everyone is busy and overscheduled. The number one reason doctors are behind in the schedule is patients showing up late. True, other factors can play a role such as telephone calls and very sick patients. Just be aware that as the day progresses the problem gets magnified. If you must get in and out quickly try to book the very first or second appointment of the morning or afternoon.



10. Be flexible. Medical offices are there to serve the patients. Sometimes bad news, a tragic accident, or a serious medical condition requires more time and attention of the staff. We can’t hurry someone out who is in tears. Just be understanding that if it is you, you will get the extra time and attention needed.


Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com





Author: Katherine A Martin, D.O. - Board Certified Family Practice Physician. Medical Coaching and Consulting. Health for the whole person. Visit my web site at www.DO-Medicine.com





Spam emails More free articles

Related articles


  1. How Many Bowel Movements Should You Have Each Day?
  2. Anti Aging Tips & Techniques
  3. Improving Your Body Immune System
  4. Laxatives You Find In The Drugstore
  5. Aloe Vera - The Medicine And Beauty Treatment Of Choice For Millenniums
  6. Can We Sleep For Three Hours and Still Function Normally?
  7. Allergy Control: Reducing Airborne Allergens in Your Home
  8. Herbal Medicine: An Ounce Of Prevention
  9. Essential Oils For Home Care
  10. Bach Flower Essences And Remedies - The Seven Helpers
  11. Acupuncture - A Benefit?
  12. A Dreadful Superstition Grips America
  13. Thyroid Dysfunction, its Symtoms & Treatment
  14. Proper Medical Identification Could Save Your LIFE
  15. Nature, An ADHD Natural Treatment
  16. Visualization For Self Healing
  17. Some Tips on Stopping Smoking
  18. What are Some Benefits For Quitting Smoking?
  19. Asperger's Syndrome and its Symptoms
  20. About Child Bedwetting
  21. Mindfulness and Pain: Just Say Ouch
  22. How To Find Your Way To Healthy Longevity
  23. How to Get Rid of Smoking, Drinking, Drugs and Other Bad Habits
  24. The Future of Healing...
  25. Genital Warts Natural and Alternative Treatment Remedies
More related feeds
Wasting your time with extreme SEO
I'm going to reverse myself where I told you to get Dr. Andy's Website Builder. Or any other. If you're like me and work just at getting stuff online at all, then you don't have time to spend on building these SEO-optimized pages. ...

Jeff Crank Press Releases
Crank says government should stop wasting time of voters. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Jeff Crank, Republican candidate for Congress in Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District, today outlined his plan for a solution to Congress not getting ...

28 Things
In fact, the odds are so low of it happening that you will waste a lot of years waiting and still not have anything changed. Just stop wasting the short time we have on this earth and change what you want changed! ...

26 new messages in 17 topics - digest
The problem I have is not posting the article, it's wasting time > looking up articles for you. > > You have a long history of simply ignoring posts after I've spent > hours looking them up, or pretending they say things they simply ...

Are You Wasting Time and Money at Doctor Visits
1. Have as whatever scrutiny records as doable with you to writing your scrutiny condition, especially for a newborn meet or a consult. Go by the hospital, impact or another doctor's duty and intend copies. ...

Are You Wasting Time and Money at Doctor Visits?
1. Have as many medical records as possible with you to document your medical condition, especially for a new visit or a consult. Go by the hospital, lab or other doctor’s office and get copies. This saves the doctor time and sometimes ...

Truth Will Out - A Worldwide Campaign
I call upon the British National Health service to stop wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on this useless poison, you know damn well it doesn’t work! Doctors, rebel! Stop prescribing poisons, or you are going to end up ...

Doctors Who Don’t Take Insurance: What Does It Mean for Patients?
“Cutting the middle man (health insurance) out of the equation allows me to give patients what they need without wasting their time in unnecessary in-person visits,” Dappen explains. “This also frees up my schedule so that I can spend ...

MY OPINIONS
The problem, Harry, is you can`t drill for oil where there is none or you won`t allow them to drill where there is oil. Crazy, isn`t it? What is it going to take for Congress to stop wasting our time and solving these problems? ...

Medical Malpractice Brooklyn: How to Avoid Wasting Time
Filing a medical malpractice case in Brooklyn is going to take up a lot of time, money and effort. When any suit is filed against a big shot medical organization, doctor, or pharmaceutical company, the media is going to get involved. ...

 

 

2007 articlesreader.com - All Rights Reserved