Getting the most out of doctor visits

As a mom of three kids, one of whom has a chronic condition that requires seeing a cadre of doctors spanning four specialties, I’ve spent a fair amount of time at a doctor’s office. I know the frustration of waiting more than an hour after a scheduled appointment only to be pushed through the hurried, five-minute doctor’s exam. I understand the confusion of receiving unclear doctor’s instructions and leaving the office with more questions than answers.

Visiting the doctor’s office can be a stressful, confusing experience especially if you’re bringing your kids, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are my tips for getting the most out of those visits:

• Understand what you need. Of course, the main reason for any doctor’s visit is to treat a symptom; you need medical attention! But beyond that basic treatment, what do you really need? My son has a condition for which there is no known cure. I’ve come to terms with that. When I see one of his many specialists, I need to be reassured that everyone is doing the best they can to treat him given the resources available. I need reassurance. What is your unique need? Knowing your needs ahead of time helps as you move through the next steps.
• Document the symptoms. I feel for doctors, especially those who treat children. Often they must diagnose and treat ailments with very little help from the patient besides, “I don’t feel good.” Take time to document symptoms in detail. If you’re having a hard time describing the symptom, try using metaphors, “It feels like someone is ringing a church bell in this part of my head…” Also write down what happened before or after the onset of the symptoms. Doctors can use even the smallest details to pinpoint the best diagnosis and treatment for you or your child.
• Formulate questions in advance. Most doctors will ask at some point in your visit, “So, do you have any questions for me?” Usually they say this as they’re rising to leave the exam room (Oy, that irks me.). I always bring a short list of questions and usually they are addressed during the exam. But, before the doctor leaves the room I always ask for a brief moment to review my list and ask any unanswered questions.
• Hunker down for a wait. It’s rare, but every now and then, my name (or my child’s name) is called within minutes of signing in at the front desk – hallelujah! Though more often than not, we wait 20- 50 minutes before seeing the doctor. I don’t like it, but I understand the nature of doctor’s offices so I prepare for a wait. That means allotting at least two hours for a doctor visit on my calendar, rather than one, so I’m not stressed about missing the next thing on my schedule. It also means making sure my kids are well-rested and fed before the visit. To help pass the time, I bring along distractions and entertainment (i.e. favorite books, toys, electronic games, movies, etc.) too.
• Be kind, be patient, be understanding. Sometimes I feel like a number. At the end of the day, I’m just a diagnosis code on the insurance form. In the busyness of running a medical practice, the administrative staff, nurses and doctors can forget to acknowledge the human behind the condition they’re treating. But instead of throwing a fit to demonstrate just how human I can be, I offer my kindness, patience and understanding to them (and then I vent briefly on Twitter, heh). My hope is that by offering a smile rather than a scowl, or a compliment rather than a complaint, that they will see that we’re human and treat us as such.

Cross-posted at The Integrated Mother on November 4, 2009.

Tagged as: doctor visit, stress management