PART 3 (Click Here for Part 1)
Now that we’ve established how to positively impact your visits with a medical practitioner, we should review some things that people do which can actually hinder their care.
Do not bring young children to your appointment:
Unless you are going to a pediatric office, it is never ok to bring children who are too young to entertain themselves. Adult medical practices are not equipped to handle young children. They are always a distraction for you the patient and most definitely to the doctor and their staff. We are not babysitters and bringing other adults to babysit the children is also not a good idea. You could be there a while and young children get bored, fussy and whiny especially when away from home.
Do not argue with the staff about office policies:
Sadly the reams of paper devoted to the rules and regulations in medicine could probably fill up a large library. Ideally they are there to protect you, the patient whether they make sense or not. If we want to continue to be able to serve you without getting in trouble from the medical board, then we have to follow these rules. Therefore, it is most appreciated if you keep this in mind when the staff asks for your cooperation regarding office paperwork.
Do not expect us to know the details of your individual insurance policy:
Most people have no say regarding their insurance since their employer is typically in charge of choosing the policy. Employers have to decide on some very specific options when picking a plan. They first choose the company (for example Medical Mutual) then they pick the type of coverage, deductible, copay amounts and even what drugs will and won’t be covered. These benefits can change every year at the time of renewal. We may know a fair amount about most of the common plans, but we can’t know all of them. So if you have concerns about what may or may not be covered, you should research these details before you make an appointment.
Do not request specific medications or brands:
Ask us to prescribe something very specific that you read in a magazine or saw on TV: Any reputable medical professional welcomes the information that you bring to the visit as I said in previous posts. This does not mean that demands for specific care will be honored. It is always ok to discuss treatment options that you have read about as a way of coming up with the best options for you personally. However, when you demand a specific treatment, you remove the essential component of the dialogue you are trying to create with your health care professionals. Your health care provider is going to take your personal health history in to consideration when making recommendations for you. General information that you read about or hear about is just that – general, not specifically applicable to your case.
Last but not least, remember that we too have personalities:
Establishing a trusting relationship with your team of medical professionals usually entails getting along with them on a personal level. I know I’ve said that your doctor is not your friend, but it should be someone that COULD be. If you can’t stand your medical practitioner personally, then it is unlikely that you’ll like their opinion. Therefore I would encourage you to doctor shop until you find someone that you like enough to talk to so that you share enough to communicate with them effectively in order to get the best possible treatment outcomes.