Long before Dr. Jerome Groopman published his recent bestseller How Doctors Think, my very smart friend Barbara made the insightful comment that asking questions is not only useful for gaining information but it also helps focus the doctor on you and the specifics of your case.
Tens of thousands of Americans die each year as a result of preventable mistakes in medical treatment. Frequently, these mistakes result from failures in the system—for example, incomplete or inaccurate information about a patient’s medical history—which, in turn, lead to human error.
But sometimes the cause of medical error is information overload. Doctors and other providers have to struggle to keep up with a vast amount of complex information and, as a result, not all decisions are based on the most recent treatment guidelines. As Dr. Groopman explains, most misguided care results from “snap judgments,” “miscommunication,” and “the denial of uncertainty.”
If you want to ensure that you receive the very best care, you need to take responsibility and assume an active role in information exchange and decision-making with your doctor.
How To Make It All About You
- Be organized. Before your visit, think about what’s bothering you and make a list of questions. If you are seeing the doctor for the first time, or if there has been a change in your health status, bring along a list of your medications and dosages as well as relevant test results, films, descriptions and dates of past surgeries and/or procedures.
- Plan. Sometimes it helps to rehearse how you’re going to describe your concerns to your doctor. Keep it brief and to the point leaving out irrelevant detail. (He really doesn’t need to know all the day’s events leading up to your sprained ankle.) If you think you’ll need a longer appointment than usual, call ahead and let the office know so they can schedule the time.
- Share. Show your doctor your list of questions and concerns and make sure he or she understands which are the most important to you.
- Speak up. If you’re feeling rushed during a visit, simply ask the doctor if you can schedule another time to talk when he or she is feeling less pressured. Many of us are unaware of the vibe we give off when we are in a hurry and doctors are no different. Saying something lets him know how you feel and may make him slow down.
- Ask. According to the Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPFS), the three most important questions you can ask you doctor, nurse, and/or pharmacist are:
—What is my main problem?
—What do I need to do?
—Why is it important for me to do this?
- Ask again. If you don’t understand something, the NPFS advises saying “This is new to me. Will you please explain that to me one more time?” and asking for written instructions or information.
- Call for test results. Always do this. Recent research from Weill Cornell Medical College shows that doctors did not notify patients about abnormal test results in one out of every 14 cases of abnormal results. Do not assume that no news is good news. Take the initiative and call. It’s also a good idea to ask for a copy of the test results to be mailed to you.
While I am a strong believer in the power of the squeaky wheel, there are times when a little WD-40® can go a long way. Next installment…How not to be labeled a bothersome patient.
For more detailed lists of questions to ask your doctor about specific diseases and conditions, see resources below.
Resources
Talking With Your Doctor: http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/talktoyourdoctor.htm
Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient Safety Foundation: http://www.npsf.org/askme3/
National Women’s Health Resource Center:
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Care Planning for Cancer Survivors:
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