Good communications can improve the care you receive

  • Published
  • By Maj. Gen. Leonard M. Randolph Jr.
  • TRICARE Management Activity deputy executive director
WASHINGTON --  One of the greatest barriers to communications between physicians and patients is time. No one seems to have enough of it, these days. However, there are things you can do to enhance communications and make the most of the time you spend in your doctor's office.

Listen to your body. Take time to make a self-assessment, and before your appointment, consider writing a diary of the symptoms. Focus on descriptive terms for your symptoms, such as intense, dull, pulsating. Try to relate the symptoms to your activities, time of day and how they compare to other past experiences. Many clinicians find it helpful when a patient can relate a "pattern of experiences".

Try not to feel embarrassed. Clinicians are highly trained professionals, and must keep patient information confidential. Since there is usually a pattern of symptoms relating to an illness, the clinician often has an insight into how the illness occurred. He or she may even expect to hear the patient state a potentially embarrassing phrase in order to make a diagnosis. Failure to tell all of your concerns (embarrassing, or not) to your clinician can result in a missed diagnosis with poor outcomes.

In the military community, fear of reprisals for having a mental or sexual health problem may be a concern for the patient. A patient's illness can affect the unit's military readiness, and possibly the patient's career. Fortunately, military clinicians have the same sacred patient relationship as civilian providers, and keep patient confidentiality as their first priority. Not receiving proper treatment may cause more harm to a unit's medical readiness, and negatively affect the patient's long-term health.

The clinic staff may ask (multiple times) why you are here to see the doctor. This question helps make sure that all the proper equipment is available in the exam room. If you only wish to speak to the clinician, just answer that you have several symptoms and are not sure of the problem.

Bring a list. Always keep a card in your wallet with a list of your allergies and current medications in case of an emergency. Double-checking your prescription list with your clinician is always important. A list of questions or concerns is usually helpful during your visit. As a patient, you may feel rushed, or your train-of-thought may be interrupted. Relying only on memory for symptoms or concerns from the past weeks or months may be not be as accurate as a list, and it can help to check with family members about your family history. The use of a list can also be helpful when talking to a different physician.

Communicating consistent information will keep everyone current on your health care.

Tell the clinician all the medications and supplements that you are taking. There are many supplements on the market that claim to improve health. Vitamins, herbs, over-the counter medications, diet pills, etc., can interact with your prescription, and may even be the cause of your symptoms. For example, simple nose spray can raise the blood pressure, while high dose vitamin K can affect ones blood-thinning prescription. Checking with your pharmacist is also very important when taking supplements.

Don't believe everything you read. The Internet is a fascinating tool for information (good and bad). Anyone can write articles for the Internet, and they do not require any proof for their claims. Bringing in articles from any source to the physician's office can help aid in discussion. However, if the clinician seems cautious, please understand that he or she may not trust the source of information or may have more insight into your particular case.

Give yourself time to heal and stay healthy. The best physician plan in the world will not work if the patient is too busy to comply. Taking time off for the rest prescribed can be difficult for "indispensable people;" ask for additional assistance whenever you can. Timers for medications are not only for the elderly, they can help anyone taking medications. Scheduling time for lifestyle changes is just as important. Any change takes time, especially if it involves exercise. An exercise prescription may be the best treatment the patient ever takes.

Keep the plan simple. The physician may discuss or hand-out a lot of information. Ask questions of the physician in order to clarify the instructions. Request a telephone consult or schedule a follow-up appointment sooner, if you have questions or concerns.

Good communication is critical to a good relationship with your clinician, and helps make you a true partner in determining which treatments you might need, and how to maintain your good health.