Therefore, what you say in the first 18 - 23 seconds makes the difference in your ability to finish your two-minutes of information. If you are well prepared and capture your provider's attention with the way you communicate you will have a much better chance of completing what you have to say.”
5.) Know your meds
Know what medications you’re on, and what they’re supposed to do. Saying that your breathing medicines, “Help open up my lungs” is not enough. Each breathing medication has a specific job and you should know what that is. If you don’t know, ask. Review all your medications with your doc (even those prescribed by other doctors – specialists, your doctor at the V.A., and others, as well as vitamins and herbal supplements). Ask about medication side effects and interactions. Learn how to use your inhalers properly by asking for a demonstration – and then do a return demonstration to make sure you’ve got it right. Learn what changes to your medications you should make on your own in response to changes in your condition.
5.) “So, what brings you here today?”
Tell your doc what happened to make you ask for the appointment, or in the case of a routine physical, tell your doc what – if anything – has changed since last time. Be specific (this is where your list of questions comes in). Your doctor wants to help you, but will not be able to do so with vague, confusing information as we learned in the scenario above. Unless you report changes in your health, your doc will assume you’re doing exactly as you were the last time you visited. If you have asthma, an Asthma Diary can be very effective in showing your doc specifically what’s been going on in your airways, as well as the effects of irritants and triggers. To get an Asthma Diary, see the information at the end of this blog.
6.) Be honest
Still having trouble quitting smoking? Puffing more than prescribed on Albuterol? Tell your doc! Can’t quite get the hang of using your inhaler? Ask for help! Be honest with your doc – and demand honesty in return. This means that you should know the numbers on your lung function test and be given information on your lung condition. It’s a good thing to know your numbers.
7.) Respect your doctor’s time and limitations
Like it or not, the current health care system is requiring doctors to squeeze more into each day, and that means we have to do all we can by working within that system. Margo Corbett reminds us that health care providers see a different patient every 15 to 30 minutes all day long. When it’s your turn, how well do you get your doctor’s attention with what you have to say? How well do you engage him/her so that s/he will really hear you and attend to your needs?
Your doctors and health care professionals entered the profession to help you, and for the most part are doing the very best they can to assure you are as healthy and happy as possible. So, do your part. Know what you need to know – and do what you need to do – to help your doc help you.
Still not sure? Read more from Jane Martin to see if your doctor meeting your needs.
To receive your Asthma Diary send a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to:
Jane M. Martin
P.O. Box 2043
Holland, MI 49422-2043
*published with permission from Margo Corbett. www.savvypatienttoolkit.com
** The Savvy Patient’s Toolkit by Margo Corbett. Scheduled for release in June, 2008. Infinity Publishing.
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