How To Make Your Eight Minute Visit With The Doctor Count - Part 1 of 3

Introduction:

Aggravated? Are you just plain tired of putting up with not having enough time with your doctor? You had a dozen questions to ask and he or she only answered 4 of them. Even following the doctor out into the hall with your gown on, and yelling that you had a lot more concerns to discuss, would only embarrass you and mark you as a belligerent patient.

Yes, there are some unique and appropriate ways to meet your needs without resorting to nasty phone calls, or responses. Aren't you relieved, even just a little bit, to hear those words? Now, can you believe them? This advice is given free. Take it for what it's worth from a patient advocate.

Have You Been Shortchanged?

The 45 minute wait to see the doctor, and 8 minutes with the doctor, does not seem worth it, at times. If you are writhing in pain, there is no alternative. When your problem is that severe, any good office assistant would immediately have the doctor see you. Routine doctor visits, for whatever medical reason, are at the root of the problem.

It takes a bit of understanding by the medical patient as to how the "short" doctor visits have come about in the practice of medicine. It may not excuse it. But, as with many things, if you know why something is happening, it is more acceptable and tolerable. Is the doctor ill? Was he suddenly called to the emergency room to see an injured patient of his?

Powerful Visit Strategies:

1. Put your plan in writing.

2. Make a list of all of the prescription medications.

3. Fill out the history form in detail.

4. Prioritize your written questions.

5. Avoid small talk.

Studies have shown that the average actual time spent with the doctor in the office is 8 minutes. A typical office visit with the doctor is interrupted within the first 27 seconds of her being in the room with you. This tells you that you either plan the time to be used efficiently, or be disappointed.

What can you do to plan? Use strategy in making your appointment (see below). Make notes of all your symptoms described in good detail to be handed to the nurse or medical assistant. In the exam room it is easy to forget certain bothersome symptoms. Be sure to arrive "on time" for your appointment. If the patient scheduled ahead of you cancelled, then you may be moved directly into the exam room.

The conflicts and interactions of medications prescribed today are immense. A detailed list of your prescription medications, doses, and how you take them is critical. Most patients cannot remember all this, especially if they are on many medications. Carry a listing with you at all times.

In an emergency you may not be conscious to tell the doctor. Your marital partner and your children, often do not know what you take. Hand the list to the nurse in the exam room, as it saves lots of time for her to record them separately.

Be very detailed in the information you put on the chart history form. Doctors often scan that before entering the exam room. Keep it updated for your doctor. You have no idea how important that the medical history is for doctors to evaluate a symptom, prescribe a medication (are you allergic?), and make a compliant diagnosis on the spot.

Prioritize your questions as to importance to you on that sheet of paper. If there is not time to get to them all, at least you will have covered the critical ones. Remember that you can schedule another visit to complete your list of questions later.

Make a decision for yourself not to use up a large part of your time with the doctor talking about his or your vacation or hobbies. Make up your mind that medicine is not like the old days where the old doctor and you were friends as well as being a patient. To find a doctor like that today, is like finding a pot of gold. Remember, his patients may have a very long wait in the waiting room while you talk about old times.

Practical Appointment Strategies:

1. Types of medical office scheduling.

2. Picking best time for your appointment.

3. How to handle interrupted appointments.

4. Learn how to bend the rules.

Which one of the three common appointment scheduling techniques that an office uses, is really dependent upon how efficient each doctor adapts to that particular system. Timed appointments, wave scheduling, and walk-in appointments allow for the best patient flow pattern for that one office.

Wave scheduling is the most misunderstood technique. Appointments for a small or large group of patients are made for the same time of day. This follows the idea that some patients arrive early, some arrive on time, and some are always late. Neat huh? Whoever signs in first gets seen first.

Always try to pick a time when interruptions are less, when delays are less likely to occur, and when efficiency is best. How in heck do you find that out? Just think about the following common occurrences.

For most doctors there are certain times of the day that they become occupied outside the office. They make rounds on hospitalized patients before office hours. Many hospital committee meetings are held early in the morning (7:00 to 9:00 AM). Department meetings, lectures, and medical education meetings often are scheduled over the lunch time--so they can eat and learn at the same time.

You guessed it! Doctors get out late from the meetings very often, and therefore are late getting back to the office. So make your appointments mid to late morning, after the doctor has ripped through the first few patients to catch up. Now he can be with you for the full appointment time, and he can make the noon meeting on time, 12:00 noon. Make your appointments mid to late afternoon for all the same reasons.

Evening meetings, hospital rounds, medical record chores are also done in the evening after office hours, and at the doctor's more relaxed schedule times. Since the evening chores are not every day, you have a good chance to spend more time with the doctor in the late afternoon when the demands on her time are minimal. Oh yeah!

Sickness, emergencies, and "problem" patients often cause delays. Some patients choose to wait and see. Some prefer to reschedule, which is the best solution. Why? Because the doctor may return to the next patient in a difficult frame of mind, and not be as courteous or sensitive to your needs as she would be on a regular day without confrontations.

Get to know the office personnel and make friends with them. It will enable you to be first on their list to call for taking advantage of a cancelled appointment. If you are nice, you can even walk in without an appointment and be seen, or fitted in to the schedule that day.

Part Two: Techniques to easily manage your visit with the doctor, in the exam room.

The author, Dr. Graham, has been published in Modern Physician, and has written medical information articles for 30 years, as well as a book on Infertility. His 38 years in medical practice as a patient advocate credentials him as an elite source for medical system advice and information.

Learn effective methods of obtaining better medical care by going here: http://www.healthcare-toolbox.com

Copyright 3004-2010, L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc., Curtis Graham, M.D., All Rights Reserved

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

How To Make Your Eight Minute Visit With The Doctor Count - Part 3

Keys to making more exam room time with the doctor:

Fifty years ago the usual 45 minute doctor appointment enabled time to undress and dress after the exam, go into the doctor's office for a nice discussion about your diagnosis and treatment, have him write out your prescriptions, and even shoot the bull a little.

Now, you barely have time with the doctor in the exam room, the nurse writes out the prescriptions (which he is supposed to sign), and you are lucky if the next patient isn't already pounding on your door to come in. Am I exaggerating? Nope.

Please don't give away these secrets: (Just kidding)

1. The disrobing dilemma.

2. Children in the exam room.

3. Timing of your discussion with the doctor.

4. Good intentions just don't hack it.

Anticipate any disrobing that you may have to do and put on the exam gown before the doctor comes into the room. Maneuvering around with clothing when the doctor is with you may use up at least a part of your discussion time.

New patients frequently want to talk to the doctor before they disrobe. Then the doctor steps out of the room to let the patient get into an exam gown or drape, thus wasting time that could have been used with the doctor. However, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Small children in the exam room are a profound distraction to you, as well as to the doctor and nurse. They cry, interrupt the conversation repeatedly, usually do not mind parental instructions anymore, walk around in the doctor's way, and create conditions where you don't quite hear what the doctor told you, or misinterpret what he said while focusing on the child not behaving.

If one has a desire to get the most value out of their doctor visit, they always have time after making their appointment to get a babysitter. Emergency visits are the exception. Now days' having small children in the exam room seems to be the standard. But, a reasonable person understands the trade-off they are making.

If a doctor had a choice, and they don't anymore, they would prefer not to have small children in the exam room. If I told you all the dilemmas and problems that I have had with small children in the OBG exam room, you would either be sympathetic or fall over backwards laughing.

There is a debate about whether it is better to blast the doctor with your questions as soon as he gets into the exam room, or to wait until near the end of the visit. Questions and discussions are better left till the end of the exam.

Because the symptoms and illness that you have are the source of your questions, the doctor is much better prepared to give you a complete and more accurate answer if he has already examined you.

Your intention should be to try and avoid the social interaction with the doctor and use that time to focus on your best medical care, but somehow it becomes an important process for you to be friendly and pleasant instead. Then do it! You may lose in one way and gain in the other.

That trade may be worth it in the long run. If you can just keep the socializing to a minimum, it certainly won't offend the doctor. You could make a longer appointment just for that reason, if need be.

Secrets that are valuable to know whenever you go to the doctor:

1.Medication samples.

2.Information handouts.

3.Checking what is in your medical chart.

4.Telephone use.

5.Computer use.

There used to be a time when pharmaceutical representatives hounded the doctor's offices, and were very promotional oriented. It meant that they were elated to pack the office closet with dozens of prescription medication samples.

If the office personnel didn't swipe them all, then most were given out to patients. It was a very decent thing to do for patients who had to pay out of their pockets for their medications.

Doctor's offices still obtain samples of prescription medications, but in limited supply. If you don't ask for medication samples, you won't be told that they are available. It can save you a bundle by simply asking for samples to see if they have them.

Patients have begun to believe that the only way to be satisfied about their illness diagnosis, treatment, and options is to educate themselves. Doctors usually will not take much time to give you more than a skimming of the important aspects of the subject matter. They now rely on midlevel medical providers to do that job for them, like nurse midwives, physician assistants, and other trained personnel. (Subject of another article)

If you notice the changes that have occurred in the last 10 years, doctor's offices are now overstocked with commercial brochures on various medical topics and illnesses. Read and heed. Patients now require more knowledge about every aspect of their afflictions. No one is going out of their way to educate you.

Thankfully, there are a few doctors left that do provide articles, written both by others and themselves, on pertinent medical topics. No one will take the time to tell you that they are available, so ask for any handouts that they have that are of interest to you.

If you haven't recognized it already, the more knowledge you have of your medical problems, the better results you will have from treatment and medical advice.

Patients now have a legal right to all the information in their medical records. Ask for copies of your record from the doctor's office or hospital. You may be charged a small copying fee per page, but having your own records at home is useful and valuable if the office records are lost. Really! Do offices or clinics ever lose records? Of course.

Reading your medical record will give you great insight into why you are being treated in a certain way, or what the doctor's real thoughts are about your illness. It will often induce considerably more trust in your doctor than you might have thought.

Use the telephone to your advantage. Once you know how your doctor's office responds to your calls, and who it is that calls back, you have the inside track for medical advice and information.

It will give you the opportunity to have medical questions answered that were avoided or forgotten at the time of your appointment. Find out what part of the day they commonly make call-backs, and be available.

Computers are a tremendous blessing for patients. Gradually, most patients are learning how to use them. In the near future, there will be no choice but to become computer literate. Not only does the Internet contain vast amounts of medical data and information at your fingertips on every topic and illness imaginable, but it has one more terrific advantage.

E-mail messages aren't just for social communications. Many medical offices now provide e-mail service on their own website. You can use e-mail to ask questions of the doctor, make appointments with your doctor, and avoid the usual "can you hold for a minute, please" response on the phone.

Dr. Graham has been published in Modern Physician, and has written medical articles for 30 years, as well as a book on Infertility. His 38 years in medical practice credentials him as an elite source of medical system advice and information.

Learn the effective strategies and tactics for obtaining much better medical care by going here: http://www.healthcare-toolbox.com

Copyright 2004-2010, L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc., Curtis Graham, MD., All Rights Reserved.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

How To Make Your Eight Minute Visit With The Doctor Count - Part 2

Exam Room Boogidy:

Are you intimidated by your doctor? Does he or she have an "attitude?" Can you see by body language that there is a definite conflict happening between you and the doctor? Can you handle it?

These hints and bits of advice will make your day. Don't you just love it when you discover secrets to avoiding problems, as well as getting your money's worth from the doctor?

Strategies to make it work for you:

1. Silent signals tell you.

2. How to deflate the "attitude."

3. How to control the factors that free up more time with the doctor.

The problem is that many patients find it very difficult to talk to a doctor. Things get awkward. They just don't want to bother the doctor because he is so darn busy anyway. Wrong! Your attitude must be, "I am here because I have a medical problem. This whole office visit and time is mine to do with it as I please. I am the important one here."

The purpose and goal is to use that doctor to get information, reassurance, and medical care. You silently have sent him a signal without speaking--- just by thinking it.

No, you don't say it out loud! The next step is to instantaneously evaluate the doctor's attitude, unless you already know how he or she "is." Is he a poor communicator? Does she act like you don't exist in the room? What! No greeting, hello, or handshake? Is he in a hurry, and it's obvious?

The doctor's attitude sets the pattern for the whole visit -- he thinks! Boy is that doctor going to have a revelation after you read this. Every doctor has his own unique personality. Each patient must seek out a doctor that they feel comfortable with and trust. If you don't feel comfortable with him or her, you will not trust their advice or treatment. Change doctors quickly!

Some doctors dictate to their patients, and if patients don't like it, they have to go elsewhere. Most doctors are gentle, conscientious, and thorough, and treat patients like friends. Doctors are always in a hurry, whether they show it or not. Training teaches them to ignore that impulse when they are with a patient.

Doctors can be excellent at diagnosis and knowledge, but are depleted of a bedside manner. These are the one's you have to know how to handle. Good doctors respect your time. Hurried and irritable doctors will not respect your time in the exam room. Yell at them right then! Let the doctor know that you see right through the attitude and as a patient, you deserve better.

Once you have verbalized that to the doctor, almost 100% will suddenly change into a nicer person, believe it or not. The last hassle a doctor needs is a letter of complaint from a patient against him or her that reaches the local Medical Association Grievance Committee. Here are the ways to bring these doctors to their knees, and have them begging for mercy.

1. Be aggressive but nice. Simply point out that your health is very important, and he should listen to all your questions, and provide adequate answers. Remind the doctor that he has made a pledge to his profession to do all he can to help patients. These comments make a person ashamed of the way they are acting, and they shape up immediately.

2. Be understanding. Explain that you understand the stresses of being a doctor and that you are sympathetic about that issue. This will chop him off at the knees. On occasion, some doctors are so wrapped up mentally with some other issues that they do not recognize how they are acting towards a patient. They just need a "heads up" push. You have to do it, not the nurse or other office personnel.

3. Be apologetic. It is just another approach to try if the others aren't working. You can pretend that the way the doctor is acting is your entire fault. Talk about making her feel guilty! Try, "If I have done something here to upset you, I apologize for my behavior." What a great "wake-up" call for the doctor!

4. Be clever. As soon as you see the bad attitude, verbalize this; "It probably would be better for me to reschedule my appointment for a time when my visit won't add to your distress." Canceling your appointment on the spot will give her some free time to get herself together before seeing the next patient. See, you have just helped another patient, and feel good about it.

5. Be cool. It is a last resort strategy. Very silently, and quietly, without uttering a single word, get off the exam table, get dressed and walk out of the exam room without a single look at the doctor, or any eye contact. When you get to the front desk, ask to see another doctor. If the doctor then follows you out front - kick him in the shins and run. No, don't do that - just think it.

The greatest risk for running into an impossible doctor is on the very first visit. You haven't had a prior opportunity to check him or her out. A referral from a friend and their comments about the doctor is usually all you have to go on. Medical Societies will not give out that kind of information.

One thing for sure, on your arrival, if the waiting room is full, you can usually count on the doctor being a good one. The quality of his treatment of his patients is measured by the number of patients that are willing to tolerate the wait to see him.

Part Three: Discussion of the many shortcuts a patient can take that are directly controlled by the patient to increase the time spent with the doctor, and a summary of the many little secrets that add great value to your doctor appointment.

Dr. Graham has been published in Modern Physician, has written articles for 30 years, and has written a book on Infertility. His 38 years in the practice of medicine credentials him as an elite source of medical system advice and information.

Help yourself obtain better medical care by reading the information about that issue here: http://www.healthcare-toolbox.com

Copyright 2004-2010, L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc., Curtis Graham, MD., All Rights Reserved

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.