Question: How do I make the most of a doctor's appointment?
From: Elisa B. of Philadelphia, PA
Answer: Too often, we leave a physician’s office and regret that we didn’t ask a particular question or offer additional information. The average encounter time with a physician is 16 minutes which includes the time it takes to discuss the reason for the visit, take a history, and the examination. To make the most of the visit, prepare ahead. In my book, I provide a 10 step process to do just that: decide what you want to achieve during the visit, create a list of questions to ask and bring all relevant medical records with you, try to have some understanding of your problem, decide if you want someone to accompany you, answer the doctor’s questions completely, tell the doctor what you would like from the visit, pay attention to what the physician says, repeat instructions and/or take notes, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification, and ask for written instructions.
From: Elisa B. of Philadelphia, PA
Answer: Too often, we leave a physician’s office and regret that we didn’t ask a particular question or offer additional information. The average encounter time with a physician is 16 minutes which includes the time it takes to discuss the reason for the visit, take a history, and the examination. To make the most of the visit, prepare ahead. In my book, I provide a 10 step process to do just that: decide what you want to achieve during the visit, create a list of questions to ask and bring all relevant medical records with you, try to have some understanding of your problem, decide if you want someone to accompany you, answer the doctor’s questions completely, tell the doctor what you would like from the visit, pay attention to what the physician says, repeat instructions and/or take notes, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification, and ask for written instructions.
Ruthann Russo, PhD, JD, MPH, RHIT, is a healthcare expert with more than 20 years of experience working in and advising healthcare organizations.
