How To Get The Most Of Your Doctor Visit
For some people. Going to the doctor is a stressful action to do. Just thinking about those sharp needles or the bitter drugs can make some of us shiver in fear.
Moreover, with the sky-rocketing prices of medicine and medical services these days (as a result of the economic crisis), people are getting more and more reluctant to go to the doctor, especially when they feel that the illness is not the one they think is fatal.
These conditions are not the ones that anyone can help. However, you can’t avoid doctors when you really need them. And as a doctor in training, I can offer some insider’s tips on how to get the most of your doctor visit. After all, you must want precious money to get the best medical service it can buy, right?
1. Look for a Communicative Doctor
In medical school, we are taught that we should ask as many questions to the patients as we can. Sixty percent of the diagnose of the illness depends on the anamnesis. A good doctor is one who is communicative, willing to spend enough time to talk to the patients, opening a two-way conversation with his patients.
A waiting room filled with patients or doctors who work until midnight to accommodate all of their patients are not necessarily signs that these doctors are the best.
A real-life example is my own grandma, whose optitrician is so famous that he has a lot of patients waiting to be treated by him. In effect, he only spends five or so minutes with each of his patients. This might work for some people, but my grandma always doubt his diagnose. As she puts it: “How can a five minute talk and examination give him enough information about my illness to determine the diagnose?”
This rouses her distrust of the doctor, and in the end, her distrust prevent her from getting well. Not because the doctor’s drugs are not effective, but because of the psychological state my grandma is in.
The bottom line is, five minutes is not enough for a doctor to determine a diagnose, but don’t expect him to spend half an hour with you, either. You are not the only patient he has to treat that day.
2. Ask Questions
Contrary to the popular belief, doctors will not feel bothered if their patients ask them questions (about their illness). A good doctor will even go in length explaining all there is to know about your condition. Because patients who know exactly what their ailment is and why the doctor advises them to do certain things (like ‘don’t smoke’ ; don’t eat anything chilly, etc) are more likely to obey whatever the doctor had told them.
You should ask questions to your doctor. Then, again, remember that you are not the only patient the doctor has to see. So choose your questions carefully and ask only the important matters, for example: ‘what exactly is my sickness? ; Why are you giving me that advice? What good will that do for me? ; could you explain the nature of my illness?’
It would be a good thing if you have tried to find out some information about your condition beforehand (from some medical books, for example), so you will know exactly what questions you must ask your doctor. Readmore…
Incoming Health:
Category : Health Tips





