| How well you and your doctor talk to each
| |
| | life? How can I learn more about this
|
| other is one of the most important parts
| |
| | condition?
|
| of getting good health care. It takes
| |
| | 11. When the doctor prescribes a new
|
| time and effort on your part and the
| |
| | medication, you might ask: What are the
|
| doctor's part. In the past, the doctor
| |
| | common side effects? When will the
|
| took the lead and the patient followed.
| |
| | medicine begin to work? What should I do
|
| Today, a good patient-doctor relationship
| |
| | if I miss a dose? Should I take the
|
| is more of a partnership. You and your
| |
| | medicine at meals or between meals?
|
| doctor should work as a team with all
| |
| | Should I drink a whole glass of water?
|
| healthcare providers to solve your
| |
| | Should I avoid any foods, drugs, or
|
| medical problems and keep you healthy.
| |
| | activities while taking this medicine?
|
| This means asking questions if the
| |
| | Will I need a refill? Keep a record of
|
| doctor's explanation or instructions are
| |
| | all your medications at home and
|
| unclear, bringing up problems even if the
| |
| | accessible to a family member in an
|
| doctor doesn't ask, and letting the
| |
| | emergency.
|
| doctor know about your concerns about a
| |
| | When the doctor writes a prescription, it
|
| treatment or change in your daily life.
| |
| | is important to understand the directions
|
| The patient needs to take an active role
| |
| | for taking the medication. Sometimes
|
| in his own medical care. This becomes
| |
| | doctors or pharmacists use abbreviations
|
| even more important as you age because
| |
| | that you see on the prescription labels.
|
| you may have more health conditions to
| |
| | The most common abbreviations are
|
| discuss. And, your health has a big
| |
| | indicated in the box below.p.r.n as
|
| impact on most other parts of your life.
| |
| | neededa.c. before mealsq.d every dayp.c.
|
| The first step is to get ready for your
| |
| | after mealsb.i.d. twice a dayh.s. at
|
| doctor's appointment:
| |
| | bedtimet.i.d. three times a dayp.o. by
|
| 1. Make a list of questions and concerns
| |
| | mouthq.i.d. four times a dayea. each
|
| with the most important first.
| |
| | 12. Take notes and repeat what the doctor
|
| 2. Take your prescriptions or a list of
| |
| | says to you to make sure you understood
|
| prescriptions with dosages. This list
| |
| | his answers. Ask for written or recorded
|
| includes prescription drugs, over the
| |
| | information about the medical diagnosis,
|
| counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal
| |
| | if you want to know more.
|
| remedies.
| |
| | Finally, the key to your understanding is
|
| 3. Take information with you: your
| |
| | your involvement in making decisions with
|
| insurance card, the names and phone
| |
| | the doctor about your treatment and
|
| numbers of other doctors who care for
| |
| | prevention of medical conditions. Discuss
|
| you, and your medical records.
| |
| | choices that reveal the risks and
|
| 4. Bring eyeglasses and wear hearing aid
| |
| | benefits of each treatment plan. Also,
|
| if you use them.
| |
| | consider your own values and
|
| 5. Consider bringing a relative or friend
| |
| | circumstances when selecting an option.
|
| for reminders and to take notes for you.
| |
| | Will a side effect interfere with a
|
| 6. Bring an interpreter if your primary
| |
| | regular activity that is important to
|
| language is not English.
| |
| | you? Or is one treatment too expensive or
|
| 7. Tell your doctor about yourself and
| |
| | not covered by your insurance? The doctor
|
| your habits so he can understand your
| |
| | may be able to take these practical
|
| medical conditions fully and recommend
| |
| | considerations in mind when recommending
|
| the best treatment choices for you.
| |
| | options of care.
|
| 8. Share information about your symptoms
| |
| | If a certain disease or health condition
|
| with as much detail as possible.
| |
| | runs in your family, the doctor may be
|
| How often? When? Getting worse or better?
| |
| | able to recommend preventative measures.
|
| How do they affect your daily life?
| |
| | Sometimes the progress of a medical
|
| Examples of symptoms include pain, fever,
| |
| | problem can be controlled by changing
|
| cough, lump, weight change, sleep
| |
| | life habits. Could a change in your life
|
| problems.
| |
| | habits help you? What are the risks of
|
| 9. If the physician wants to conduct a
| |
| | making changes? Are there support groups
|
| medical test, you might want to know the
| |
| | or community services available to help
|
| answers to these questions: Why is the
| |
| | you with the medical condition?
|
| test being done? What does the test
| |
| | During your next visit to your physician,
|
| involve? Are there any dangers or
| |
| | remember to make good use of your time.
|
| side-effect? When and how will you get
| |
| | Be honest about yourself and your habits,
|
| the test results? What will you know
| |
| | decide which questions are most
|
| after the test?
| |
| | important, stick to the point, and share
|
| 10. If the physician provides a
| |
| | your point of view about the visit in a
|
| diagnosis, you might ask: What may have
| |
| | positive way, so that every visit can
|
| caused this condition? Is it permanent?
| |
| | become an effective tool in maintaining
|
| How is this condition treated or managed?
| |
| | your health.
|
| What are the long term effects on my
| |
| |
|
