Let's face it, going to the doctor isn’t something most of us look forward to. At the same time, we're hoping to get answers about problems or concerns. So we want to walk away feeling like we got the information we needed.
Doctors and other health care professionals agree: The best possible visit occurs when patients are clear and direct with their questions. And if you don't understand the answer, don't be afraid to ask again. Building a good rapport with your doctor is key. Here are 5 ways Novant Health doctors say you can make the most of a doctor visit.
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5 ways to make the most of your doctor appointment
1. Be open.
The key to any doctor-patient relationship is honest and open communication. It’s absolutely vital to bring up anything that’s bothering you, no matter how embarrassing or uncomfortable you might feel about it. Pick a doctor you're comfortable opening up to. And if after a few visits you're not clicking, find another doctor.
2. Referred to a specialist?
Sometimes when patients are referred to a specialist, they're not clear why they're the referral happened in the first place. The way to avoid that is to ask your referring doctor: Why do I need to see a specialist? What do you expect us to learn from the visit?
Think about the visit in advance and write down your questions. You're probably going to search the internet. Stick to government sites and others supported by large health care systems. Avoid "influencers" and others who may be out to sell products or generate page views with scary, misleading or unsettling information.
3. Speak up, set goals and communicate them.
Setting clear expectations about what you’d like to accomplish helps make the appointment more successful. So be vocal about what those goals are.
For example, let's say you're seeing a spine specialist for back pain. You want the pain to stop, but you also want to know what's causing it. So be direct about your desire to try and get to the root of the problem.
4. Ask questions. Be persistent.
Don’t be afraid to take notes or ask questions. Doctors are there to listen. And educate.
During a longer, more complex visit, repeat back what you heard the doctor say in your own words to make sure you understand. Ask your doctor to explain it a second or even a third time until you feel like you've got a handle on the information. This is also part of the process of building a relationship with your doctor: feeling like you're operating as a team.
At the end of the visit, make sure you feel like you've got what you need before leaving the exam room. One common strategy is to tell your doctor what your "take-away" from the visit is and ask if you've got it correct.
Don't be afraid to ask for printed information, or a website the doctor trusts where you can learn more. Most of us will end up with more questions after the visit. That's completely natural. Follow up with a MyChart message to your health care team if you don't want to wait until your next appointment.
5. Bring an advocate with you.
It's hard to listen and absorb information when we're scared or nervous. Bring a friend or a partner to the visit as a second set of ears and to help with follow-up questions.
If you're feeling dismissed or unheard at a medical visit, doctors agree: speak up right then. Humans don't always land on the same page at the same moment. If you're feeling frustrated during a visit, take a deep breath and explain why.
For example, if you're thinking you might be having serious hearing problems and the doctor says she doesn't think that's the case, that doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation. Be honest about your confusion. Ask questions to understand how or why she arrived at her decision. It could simply be a case of miscommunication.
Trust your instincts with your health care team
In the end, physicians agree: Trusting your gut is just as important as the trust you should have in your care team.
If something feels “off,” or you simply want to make sure about the treatment plan, getting a second opinion or asking for a referral is perfectly acceptable. You're not going to hurt anyone's feelings by doing this.
When doctors get sick or aren't sure about their diagnosis, they get second opinions, too.
In fact, many physicians encourage patients to get a second opinion because it can help establish confidence that you're on the best possible path.
Bottom line: Physicians go into medicine because they we want to help people. It doesn’t matter who is doing that helping.
