Taking Charge of Your Visit: Top 5 Questions You Should Ask at Your Physical
Top Five Questions to Ask During a Routine Physical
Dr. Marie (Marie Savard, M.D.)
BUILDING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR
A vital part of taking charge of your healthcare is learning how to be your own advocate and learn to trust your own instincts. It also means you need to learn how to prepare for a doctor’s visit, how to collect, read and understand your medical records, and how to work with your doctor to set your personal treatment goals.
1) CAN I BRING MY HEALTH BUDDY INTO THE EXAM ROOM?
Probably the most powerful tool for ensuring that you get the most out of your doctor’s visit is a health buddy. This is a friend or a relative who comes with you to provide that extra pair of eyes and ears. This may surprise you, but I have learned from experience, it is really worth it.
Your health buddy can help you prepare for your visit, make sure you remember to ask all your questions and most importantly, write down your doctor’s advice and findings. The idea that you need to prepare for a doctor’s visit might surprise you but believe me, your doctor will appreciate the effort and you will reap the benefits. Many of today’s doctors work in busy practices where it’s common to have no more than 10-15 minutes to spend with each patient.
Research has shown that patients forget up to 50% of what their doctor tells them. Having a friend or a relative with you during visits provides extra insurance against forgetting a critical piece of information. (A health buddy is especially important during hospital stays when you may be sick, confused or distracted.)
2) CAN WE REVIEW MY EMERGENCY HEALTH INFORMATION ALONG WITH FAMILY HISTORY, ALLERGIES AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS?
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to carry a snapshot of your basic health information with you at all times. In a matter of minutes, just by writing down information you probably have at your fingertips, you will have two documents that are capable of saving your life.
Here are some of the important items to list:
Every medical condition you have, including prior surgeries
Every medication, herbal supplement or vitamin you are taking – even those you take only on occasion. Include the dose and directions for each medication.
Every allergy or reaction you have had to medicines and other substances
The name of your family doctor, advanced directive or living will and emergency contact information
As you can imagine, this information is vital in the event of an emergency. It means that whomever takes care of you will have the right information to make critical decisions.
It’s also great to take this information with you every time you see your doctor. Having all of this information available will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment regimen for you.
3) DO YOU HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE LIST OF ALL MY MEDICATIONS INCLUDING PRESCRIPTION AND OTC?
Did you know that adverse drug reactions and interactions account for thousands of needless hospitalizations and deaths each year? You can help keep that from happening to you simply by keeping a complete and up-to-date list of all your medications, allergies and reactions and showing this list to every doctor and pharmacist involved in your care.
Every pill you put in your mouth counts whether it’s an aspirin, vitamin or prescription medication. There can be surprising interactions between drugs we think of as harmless, like aspirin or herbal supplements, and prescription medications. That’s why it’s so important to keep a list of everything you take.
You’ll want to note the start and stop dates for every medication as well as why you are taking it. Be sure to note any specific treatment goals you have – for instance, if you are trying to keep your blood pressure under a specific number or your LDL cholesterol level below a certain range. Also include any special instructions or precautions you’ve been given about your medication - like taking it with food or milk or avoiding the sun.
4) ARE MY PREVENTIVE HEALTH TESTS AND IMMUNIZATIONS UP-TO-DATE? WHAT TESTS DO I NEED AT MY AGE?
Women often have their records divided between a gynecologist and family doctor. Men don’t even go to a doctor on a regular basis. (When was your last tetanus shot? What antibiotic successfully treated your last urinary tract or prostateinfection? What is your LDL cholesterol level? Who has your last Pap test or PSA test result? Mammogram or colonoscopy report? Recent blood test results?)
Do you have any idea when your last tetanus shot was or whether you are due for a flu or pneumonia shot? Most people have no idea.
Your doctor can tell you what immunizations you need and when you need them. Write them down so you can remind your doctor when an immunization is due - your doctor will appreciate your help. Have your doctor sign and date each immunization you receive on your immunization form. Use a health calendar, to make sure you, your children and other family members stay up-to-date.
Along with immunizations, you will also need preventive health exams such as a general physical with blood pressure, colon cancer and cholesterol screening. Women who are over 30 should ask their doctors about the HPV with Pap test and men should ask about a prostate exam and PSA test.
5) CAN I HAVE A COPY OF MY TEST RESULTS AND OTHER HEALTH RECORDS?
Today, medical records are scattered among doctors and hospitals and rarely available when you need them most. This is why it is more important than ever that you keep your own set.
This may seem like a daunting task but keep in mind that 80% of what a doctor uses to make a diagnosis comes from your medical history. To make sure that it’s accurate and complete, start collecting your records today.
Let your doctor know that you plan to take more responsibility for managing your health care and that keeping a copy of your medical records is an important part.
From now on, every time your doctor orders a test or x-ray, give him a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a note to remind him you want a copy of the report. Ask for copies of test and x-ray results, specialist consultations, hospital discharge summaries, operative notes and pathology reports. If you are asking for prior records, you might offer a small fee to cover copying costs – around 10-15 dollars.
Once you get your records, keep them in a special folder or binder and bring them with you to every doctor visit. Of course, just having them is only the start – you can also learn how to read them.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTOR:
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SCHEDULE FOR AN APPOINTMENT?
DO I NEED TO FAST FOR BLOOD WORK?
HOW WILL I HEAR ABOUT MY TEST RESULTS?