Preparing for Your Doctor's Visit
With the current war over health care reform being waged in Washington, your relationship with your doctor is only going to get worse. With the constraints made on healthcare providers by the government, doctors are already restricted in amount of time they are allowed to see patients and how many patients they're required to see each day.
It's a nice thought that everyone should have healthcare, but the reality is that it will also affect the time you have to wait in the waiting room. Doctors will be inundated with new patients and, with Medicaid reimbursements being cut, the doctor will be seeing even more patients, cutting down the amount of time he has to spend with you.
Most people don't realize that the length of your doctor's visit is dictated by billing codes. A doctor is only allowed to charge for specific things, meaning if he spends time talking to you he probably won't be able to bill the insurance company for it. If your office visit feels rushed, it's because he has to squeeze in as many billable minutes as possible.
Take control of your health and take control of your life. To make the most of your doctor's visit, use these basic tips to prepare:
- Before your visit make a list of all of your symptoms and/or concerns.
- Make a list of all the medications you're currently taking, including dosage. Include a list of all over the counter meds, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking.
- Include information on medications that you have taken and if they worked for you or not. If they didn’t work or you had problems with the medication be sure to tell your doctor about it.
- Bring a detailed copy of your (and your family's) medical history.
- Take a notepad and a pen with you and write down any information that the doctor gives you. If you don’t understand anything, make him explain it to you. There is no need to be embarrassed if you don't understand all the terminology. And if you write it down you can look it up later.
- Make the doctor explain your treatment options and medications. Ask him about any side effects that you might experience.
- If you forget any questions you have, be sure to call the office back and ask! Your health is too important to ignore. Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask your doctor anything.
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