Making the Most of Your Appointment
Overview
Many people are more satisfied with their health care if they
share the responsibility with their doctors. Your doctor is an expert on medical care, but you are the expert on yourself.
Often there is more than one option for diagnosing or treating a condition. By
being a partner with your doctor, you can help choose the option
that best fits your values, beliefs, and lifestyle. You also will feel more
confident about carrying out the chosen treatment.
Here are some tips for being a good partner with your doctor:
- Build a relationship with your doctor. Let your doctor know that you want to be a partner
in your health care. Tell the doctor what your expectations
are.
- Be an active participant in each appointment. Listen
carefully to what your doctor says. If you do not understand a
diagnosis or treatment, ask questions. Tell the doctor if you do
not think that you can carry out the prescribed treatment.
- Prepare your child for tests and examinations. Let your child know why he or she
is seeing a doctor and what will be done during the visit. Your
child's age and developmental level will determine how best to prepare him or
her.
What is the reason for your appointment?
During your appointment, you will need to answer some important
questions so that you and your doctor can plan your care together.
Completing the appropriate forms before the appointment helps you provide
correct and complete information, take an active role in your health care
decisions, and make the most of your limited appointment time.
Choose the form that best describes your reason for seeing the
doctor.
Do you take medicines?
If you take prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including
herbal remedies or vitamins, bring all your medicines with you to any
appointment with a doctor. If you cannot bring the medicines,
bring a
list of the medicines that you take
(What is a PDF document?)
.
Before your appointment, write down your daily medicine schedule in a form that has spaces for hourly entries
(What is a PDF document?)
. Your doctor can help you understand how much of each medicine to take and when to take each one.
What other forms might be helpful?
If you and your doctor are going to discuss a new
medicine, medical test, surgery, or special treatment, choose a form from the
following list. Then fill in your information, and take the form with you to
your visit. Completing the form will help you understand the importance of the
treatment your doctor is advising for your health condition. If
you do not have the form at the time of your visit, complete the form at home
after the visit.
What do you need to do after the appointment?
Update the medical records that you keep at home. For more
information, see the topic Home Medical Records.
Other Places To Get Help
Online Resources
| Adolescent Health Online Home Page |
| American Medical Association |
| Web Address: | www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1947.html |
| |
This Web site, sponsored by the American Medical
Association (AMA), provides parents and teens with useful information about
issues such as injury prevention, nutrition, teen violence, physical fitness,
and tobacco use. The Web site also has links to many other resources. |
|
| Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living |
| Health Canada |
| Web Address: | www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide |
| |
This site is designed to meet the federally mandated promotion of
health and fitness among Canadians. It provides information and general
guidelines to help individuals make wise choices about physical
activity. |
|
| Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living for Older Adults |
| Health Canada |
| Web Address: | http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/paguide/older/index.html |
| |
This Web site explains why it is important for older adults to stay
physically fit and offers suggestions and simple ways to stay active. |
|
| Canadian Health Network (CHN) |
| Health Canada |
| Web Address: | www.canadian-health-network.ca |
| |
The Canadian Health Network (CHN) is a national, non-profit health
information service. CHN provides information on disease prevention and health
issues such as violence prevention, mental health, environment and health, and
workplace safety. The Web site contains links to more than 17,000 English and
French Canadian Web-based resources. |
|
Organization
| Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research
Institute |
| 201-185 Somerset Street West |
| Ottawa, ON K2P 0J2 |
| Canada |
| Phone: | (613) 233-5528 |
| Fax: | (613) 233-5536 |
| E-mail: | info@cflri.ca |
| Web Address: | http://cflri.ca/ |
| |
The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute's goal is to
enhance the fitness level of all Canadians. It conducts research regarding the
overall fitness of Canadians and provides information on physically active
lifestyles. |
|
References
Other Works Consulted
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2000).
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors. Patient Fact
Sheet (AHRQ Publication No. 00-P038). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality. Also available online:
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.pdf.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2004).
Five Steps to Safer Health Care. Patient Fact Sheet
(AHRQ Publication No. 04-M005). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality. Also available online:
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/5steps.htm.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2007).
Be Prepared for Medical Appointments. Patient Fact Sheet
(AHRQ Publication No. 07-0039-A). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality. Also available online:
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/beprepared.htm.
- Mold JW (2006). Facilitating shared decision-making
with patients. American Family Physician, 74(7):
1209–1210, 1212.
Credits
|
Author
| Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | July 31, 2009 |
Last Updated:
July 31, 2009
