As you become older, the chance you’ll need to see your doctor due to health conditions and complaints increases. Unfortunately, the medical professionals don’t always give seniors the attention they deserve, especially when what’s wrong isn’t immediately obvious. According to a study published in Medical Care, the average primary care visit is just 18 minutes. It may be difficult to communicate the seriousness of ongoing symptoms like chronic pain or a general sense that something isn’t right in the short amount of time you have with your doctor.
It’s important to advocate for yourself by talking with your doctor. People who do express their needs tend to be more satisfied with the outcomes, according to a study published in Communication Studies. There are several ways to do this, all of which also apply if you’re advocating for a loved one, such as a partner.
1. Ask About Prices
Patients have the right to know how much treatment will cost before they agree to care, including the price of regular checkups. Whenever you’re booking an appointment or considering a test or treatment, ask how much it will cost, both with and without insurance. (Sometimes, a discounted price is available if you don’t use insurance, which may be less than your out-of-pocket costs with insurance.) You also have the right to compare prices at one healthcare facility with those at another.
2. Provide a Reason for Your Appointment
To schedule the appropriate amount of time, it helps your doctor to know why you’ve booked an appointment. When you call, give the receptionist some basic information — there’s no need to go into detail, but it will be useful for the physician to know something about your symptoms in advance.
If your doctor allows patients to send portal messages, this could also be a good option prior to your appointment. It’s a good way to provide your doctor with background information, especially if the issue is complex.
3. Determine What You Need to Say
Once you’re at the doctor’s office, you may find that you’re unsure how to express yourself. To ensure you explain well, it’s a good idea to spend time before your appointment thinking about what you’d like to say, including how you’ll say it. Anticipate questions your doctor may have, such as when the symptoms started, when you feel worse, and what you’ve done to try to alleviate the symptoms.
There may be instances when your doctor misunderstands what you’re trying to say. It may feel intimidating to correct your doctor, since he or she is the professional in the interaction. However, you know your symptoms better than anyone (or, if you’re advocating for someone else, what you’ve seen your loved one experience on a daily basis). It’s worth having lines in mind for if you feel that your doctor is jumping to conclusions and you need to provide further explanation. For instance, you could say, “Not exactly. What I mean to say is…”
4. Bring Everything You Need with You
Avoid needing to come back later or not being able to provide your doctor with all the information he or she needs by arriving prepared. Bring:
- Any test results from specialists, in case your doctor doesn’t have access to them.
- A list of your current medications with their dosages and your reasons for taking them. This includes supplements and over-the-counter medications.
- An overview of your medical history.
It may also be worth bringing a copy of your notes to jog your memory, especially if you find being in a medical setting stressful.
5. Decide on Your Priorities
You may have more than one concern — this is normal with aging. However, you’re more likely to receive satisfactory results if you focus on no more than a couple issues per appointment, as you have a limited time with your doctor. For this reason, it’s critical to think about your priorities. If you end up having more time than you expected, you may be able to mention concerns you feel are less urgent.
6. Arrive Early
Doctors often struggle to know how long each appointment will take — which is why you often find yourself waiting beyond your scheduled appointment time. However, appointments sometimes take less time than the doctor expected or there are no-shows. Take advantage of this possibility by arriving early — you may receive more time to talk with your doctor.
7. Record Your Visit
Bring a notepad and pen with you to take notes of what you discuss during your appointment. If it’s allowed, you may even like to record audio of your visit.
At the end of the appointment, summarize what you’ve discussed to ensure you’ve understood. This is also a chance to ask your physician to clarify the reason for your diagnosis, treatment, or need for further tests.
8. Request Generic Medications
You have the right receive a prescription for generic medication rather than a brand-name medicine, if generic is available. The high cost of medications has led 30% of adults to not take their medications as prescribed in the past year, according to KFF research. Receiving a generic version may make the medication affordable while providing you with the same effects as the brand-name version.
9. Learn Where to Voice Concerns
If you have any concerns about the quality of the services you receive (such as if you feel that your doctor hasn’t fully addressed your concerns), you have options. The hospital will have an ombudsman or patient advocacy department just for this purpose.
10. Request a Second Opinion
Another way to deal with a doctor whom you feel is not providing you with the appropriate care is to seek a second opinion. In fact, this is good practice whenever a case is complicated — you may find a doctor who has more experience with your condition or takes you more seriously.
Bonus: Tips for Advocating for a Loved One
When advocating for a loved one, there are a few specific things you need to do in addition to the above.
11. Gain Legal Rights to Healthcare Advocacy
For healthcare professionals to be legally allowed to share someone else’s medical information, the person needs to sign a HIPAA release. Bear in mind, this only allows doctors to answer questions about your loved one’s condition and treatments. If you also want to be able to make decisions on behalf of your loved one, you need to gain medical power of attorney or a legal healthcare proxy statement.
12. Learn About Your Loved One’s Wishes
Make sure you’re clear about what your loved one wants in terms of medical treatment. This may be a difficult conversation, but it’s crucial —you don’t want to make assumptions or put yourself in a position where you need to guess. It’s especially important to know your loved one’s wishes if there’s a chance that other family members may take issue with your decisions. You need to be able to reassure them that you’re doing what your loved one wants.
13. Attend Appointments Whenever Possible
Make sure your loved one books appointment when you’re available to attend. This will give you the chance to ask questions and provide additional information as well as to hear diagnoses, treatment options, and instructions directly from the doctor.
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