HOW TO PREPARE FOR A DOCTOR’S VISIT

BY DEBORAH JEANNE SERGEANT

Patients did not always need to prepare for a doctor’s visit as they should now. According to Joseph R. Maldonado Jr., CEO Four County Management Corp., several factors have changed the approach to doctor’s visits.

“Ten years ago, it wasn’t an issue because we didn’t have the physician shortage we have at this time,” he said.

Maldonado is also executive director for the medical societies of the counties of Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Chenango, Oswego and Cayuga. He added that the requirements of electronic medical records and insurance-driven care have reduced the time doctors have with patients as physicians scramble to check each box on their tablets to meet their quality-of-care parameters. Many must cram into their day as many visits as they can.

With visits averaging around 15 minutes, patients have little time to voice their concerns and receive answers to their questions. This is why preparing for a doctor’s visit can help them better maintain good health.

“If he gives you extra time, he throws everyone else behind schedule,” Maldonado said.

Instead, he said it’s wise to ask in advance for more time or at least for an appointment at the end of the workday so a longer visit will not push into the next patient’s visit. Patients should also let the office know in advance about any changes in health or new specialists seen.

Locating the insurance card before the visit saves the time of digging through a wallet or bag. Gregory Faughnan, faculty at St. Joseph’s Family Medicine residency and SJP Camillus Primary Care in Camillus, advises patients to “bring a list of your current medications, the dose, and how often you take them. Before every visit, these will be updated in the chart. Having a list ensures they are correct and will help this update happen quickly. It is also a good idea to make a note of what needs to be refilled. In addition to a medication list, it is a good idea to bring a list of the other medical providers you see.

“If you wear glasses or hearing aids, make sure you bring them to your appointment. You want to make sure you can hear, see and communicate with your healthcare providers. Interpreter services are available at all of our offices if needed.”

Instead of unloading everything on the provider in one 15-minute session, returning for a visit regarding less urgent issues will help the provider keep his day moving forward. Follow-up appointments can help providers adequately address additional issues.

Arriving early can help patients gain more time with their provider and prevent slowing down the day’s schedule overall, as can wearing clothing that can be easily removed for changing in and out of a gown.

“Bring a list of written questions or concerns,” Faughnan said. “It’s very common that people have a list of things they would like addressed or particular questions about their healthcare and when their doctor walks in, their mind goes blank. Having a written list of what they would like to address ensures that nothing gets left out or forgotten. Additionally, having a pen and paper to write things down during the appointment can be helpful.”

Recording the provider’s responses can help patients stay better organized and accurate in their home self-care.

Faughnan also suggested bringing along a family member or other trusted adult. “They can help with ensuring your concerns are addressed as well as providing additional information to your healthcare provider,” he said.

Especially for those with a life-altering diagnosis or otherwise unusual health history, bringing along another adult can help bring greater understanding and clarity. Oftentimes, care providers can offer so much complex information that it challenges patients to absorb and understand it. Many offices also provide a printout chronicling the visit and access to an online portal.

He also encourages reading up on health concerns from reputable medical websites, such as The Mayo Clinic (www. mayoclinic.org), Cleveland Clinic (www. clevelandclinic.org), Web MD (www.webmd.com) and Johns Hopkins (www.hopkinsmedicine.org).

Lisa Olson-Gugerty, who holds a master’s degree in public health, is an associate teaching professor at Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She encourages patients to ask why they are taking medication, what their lab work means and what they can do to improve their health.

“Patients should realize that healthcare should be health care, not sick care and only seeing their provider when they are sick,” she said. “They should know why they are taking drugs, strive to engage in health promoting behavior and know that there is no magic wand. We cannot fix everything and sometimes we do not have the answer to their questions.”

In a similar line of thought, patients should not demand a prescription or insist on their self-diagnosis. Olson-Gugerty wants patients to view healthcare as “a collaborative effort and that the patient has a responsibility to take care of their own health.”