HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

Your Relationship With Your Doctor

• Your relationship with your doctor, including how well you talk with each other, affects your care

• A good relationship — where you and your doctor share information and work together to make the best decisions about your health — will result in the best care.

• HOW ?

Be Prepared

The best way to make the most of your limited time is to come to your appointment prepared:

• Write down all the questions • Make and bring a list of symptoms. You might want to

research your condition at the library or on the Internet • Bring a list of all the medicines you take. • Arrive early • Bring your medical records/

insurance details

TESTS

• Must I have tests? • What tests do I need and why? • What do the tests involve? • How do I prepare for the tests? • When will I know the test results? • Will my insurance cover the cost of the

tests? • Will I have to take the tests again?

TREATMENT

• What are my treatment choices?

• What are the benefits and risks of each treatment?

• What are the side effects?

• How good is each treatment?

• Which treatment is most common for my condition?

• What do I do if treatment fails?

MEDICATION

• What kind of medication(s) must I take? For how long?

• What does the drug do? Will there be any side effects?

• What should I do if I have side effects? • Can I take a generic version of the drug? • Will the medicine interact with any I am already

taking? • Should I avoid any kind of food or activity while

taking this medicine?

FOLLOW-UP

• Do I need to see a specialist?

• Should I get a second opinion?

• Do I need a follow-up visit?

DON'T WITHHOLD INFORMATION

• The more information you share, the better the doctor will be able to figure out what's wrong and how to treat you.

• Don't make the doctor guess.

BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU

• A companion also could help you relax, remind you of questions you forgot to ask, and help you remember what the doctor said

FOLLOW UP

• You might forget to ask a question, even if you wrote it down - or if you think of a new question, call the office right away

• If the doctor wants you to come back for a follow up visit, be sure to set and keep the appointment.

SPEAK UP

• If you don't understand what the doctor is telling you, ask him or her to explain it again.

• Don't be embarrassed or ashamed to bring up sensitive topics.

To Tell My Doctor

My History

• I am here today, because………• I first noticed it when I was at …….. doing ….. on ……….• It is (describe) ……………..• It happened before in …..........

About your problem

• What’s wrong with me

• How do you know

• What caused this problem

To Tell My Doctor

My History

• I also have …….• Relatives who have similar problems are …• The medications I am taking are …….• I am allergic to ………

To Tell My Doctor

My Feelings

• I feel this is because of ………• I am worried that ………• I would like you to …….

Your Doctor Cannot Read Your Mind !

The More Organized You Are,

The Easier It Is for Him To Help You !