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Is
the doctor's office convenient?
•
Where is the doctor's office located?
•
Is parking available nearby? What is the cost?
•
Is the office on a bus or subway line?
•
Does the building have an elevator? Ramps for a wheelchair?
Adequate lighting?
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Where
Do I Begin?
Getting
Started With a New Doctor
Your
first meeting is the best time to begin communicating
positively with your new doctor. When you see the doctor
and office staff, introduce yourself and let them know
how you like to be addressed. The first few appointments
with your new doctor also are the best times to:
Learn
the basics of the office--Ask the office staff how
the office runs. Learn what days are busiest and what
times are best to call. Ask what to do if there is an
emergency, or when the office is closed.
Share
your medical history--Tell the doctor about your illnesses
or operations, medical conditions that run in your family,
and other doctors you see. You may want to ask for a copy
of the medical history form before your visit so you have
all the time and information you need to complete it.
Your new doctor may ask you to sign a medical release
form to get copies of your medical records from doctors
you have had before. Be prepared to give the new doctor
your former doctors' names and addresses, especially if
they are in a different city.
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Give
information about your medications--Many people take several
medicines. It is possible for medicines to interact, causing
unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects. Your doctor
needs to know about ALL of the medicines you take, including
over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, so bring everything
with you to your fist visit, including eye drops, vitamins,
and laxatives. Tell the doctor how often you take each and describe
any drug allergies or reactions you have had and which medications
work best for you. Be sure your doctor has the phone number
of your regular drug store.
Tell
the doctor about your habits--To provide the best care,
your doctor must understand you as a person and know what your
life is like. The doctor may ask about where you live, what
you eat, how you sleep, what you do each day, what activities
you enjoy, your sex life, and if you smoke or drink. Be open
and honest with your doctor. It will help him or her to understand
your medical conditions fully and recommend the best treatment
choices for you.
Summary:
Getting Started With a New Doctor
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Learn the basics of how the office runs.
•
Share your medical history.
•
Give information about your medications.
•
Tell the doctor about your habits.
Questions
to ask your doctor about prevention:
•
Should I get a flue shot, pneumonia shot, and/or other
immunizations?
•
How often should I have a breast or prostate examination?
•
Would changing my diet or exercise habits help me avoid
specific diseases?
______________________
A symptom
is evidence of a disease or disorder in the body.
Examples of symptoms include pain, fever, unexplained
weight loss or gain, or disrupted sleep.
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What
Should I Say?
Talking
About Your Health
Talking
about your health means sharing information about how
you feel both physically and emotionally. Knowing how
to describe your symptoms, discuss treatments, and talk
with specialists will help you become a partner in your
health care. Here are some issues that may be important
to you when you talk with your doctor.
Preventing
Disease and Disability
Until
recently, preventing disease in older people received
little attention. But things are changing. It's never
too late to stop smoking, improve your diet, or start
exercising. Getting regular checkups and seeing other
health professionals such as dentists and eye specialists
help promote good health. Even people who have chronic
diseases, like arthritis or diabetes, can prevent further
disability and,in some cases, control the progress of
the disease.
If
a certain disease or health condition runs in your family,
ask your doctor if there are steps you can take to help
prevent it. If you have a chronic condition, ask how you
can manage it and if there are things you can do to prevent
it from getting worse. If you want to discuss health and
disease prevention with your doctor, say so when you make
your next appointment. This lets the doctor plan to spend
more time with you as well as to prepare for the discussion.
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Sharing
Any Symptoms
It is very important for you to be clear
and concise when describing your symptoms. Your description
helps the doctor identify the problem. A physical exam
and medical tests provide valuable information, but it
is your symptoms that point the doctor in the right direction.
Tell
the doctor when your symptoms started, what time of day
they happen, how long they last (seconds? days?), or how
often they occur, if they seem to be getting worse or
better, and if they keep you from going out or doing your
usual activities. Take the time to make some notes about
your symptoms before you call or visit the doctor. Concern
about your symptoms is not a sign of weakness. It is not
necessarily complaining to be honest about what you are
experiencing.
Learning
More About Medical Tests
Sometimes doctors need to do blood tests, x-rays, or other
procedures to find out what is wrong or to learn more
about your medical condition. Some tests, such as Pap
smears, mammograms, glaucoma tests, and screening for
prostate and colorectal cancer, are done on a regular
basis to check for hidden medical problems.
Before
having a medical test, ask your doctor to explain why
it is important and what it will cost, and, if possible,
to give you something to read about it. Ask how long the
results of the test will take to come in.
When
the results are ready, make sure the doctor tells you
what they are and explains what they mean. You may want
to ask your doctor for a written copy of the test results.
If the test is done by a specialist, ask to have the results
sent to your primary doctor.
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Questions
to ask yourself
about your symptoms:
•
What exactly are my symptoms?
•
Are the symptoms constant? If not, when do I experience
them?
•
Do the symptoms affect my daily activities? Which ones?
How?
______________________
Questions
to ask your doctor about medical tests:
•
What will we know after the test?
•
How will I find out the results? How long will it take
to get the results?
•
What steps does the test involve? How should I get ready?
•
Are there any dangers or side effects?
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