Services: Medical/Better Patient

Various studies have shown that, on average, patients spend less than 15 minutes with their doctor on any given visit.

With so little time to address your health care, it’s important you maximize what time you do spend with your doctor by being a well-prepared patient.

Angie’s List (www.angieslist.com), the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings, including nearly 150 categories in health care, consulted physicians throughout the United States for tips on what makes a good patient. First, they say, it’s important patients keep their appointments as scheduled. Missed appointments ultimately delay treatment and could allow undiagnosed conditions to fester.

Another concern from doctors is patients not taking enough responsibility for their own well-being and failing to follow medical advice. 

“By being a proactive and informed patient, you’ll likely be a healthier person,” said Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks.

“If you come to your appointments prepared, ready to ask questions and are willing to have an honest and open discussion with your doctor, you should get the information you need to be well and stay well. Remember, your doctor likely has hundreds, if not thousands of patients. Doing your job as a patient – providing your doctor with as much information as you can, and following the advised course of treatment – should help ensure you get the best care possible.”

Keep in mind that your doctor works for you. No one person has more information about your medical history than your doctor and the more your doctor knows about you, the better equipped he or she is diagnose and treat you.

If you have concerns, speak up. If you don’t think you’re getting top-notch care, talk to your doctor and see if you can find out the root of the problem. If you’re still not satisfied, it might be time to find a new doctor.

“If you’re looking for a new doctor, it’s important you find one with whom you are comfortable,” Hicks added. “Take time to research your physician. At Angie’s List, we’re collecting about 10,000 medical reports a month from members. These are firsthand accounts from patients who talk about everything from a doctor’s bedside manner to the office environment. This is a good place to get your research going.”

When it comes to creating a strong relationship with your physician, you can take 6 steps before you even show up for your appointment.

1.)     Schedule a regular checkup: The easiest way to build a relationship is to see your doctor regularly. Scheduling a yearly exam – or more, depending on your medical condition – is important to maintaining a familiar relationship and in monitoring your evolving health.

2.)     Know your vitals: Keep track of things like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and other vital statistics. Knowing this information, where you are and where you need to be, is vital itself.

3.)     Bring your medications: By bringing in any prescription or over-the-counter medications you take, your doctor can identify any potential unsafe interactions and ensure you are taking medications that best meet your health needs.

4.)     Be prepared to ask questions: Make a list of questions or health concerns you may have before your exam. List them in order of importance to you so you address your top concerns early in the appointment. If you don’t get to all of your questions, schedule a follow-up appointment.

5.)     Take notes: When your doctor shares information with you about your health, write it down. “Temporal arteritis” sounds an awful lot like “temporary arthritis”, but the two terms have vastly different meanings and it’s important you’re clear in understanding what your doctor says. Taking notes can serve as a reminder to ask follow-up questions during your visit or to help you research more later on your own.

6.)     Be honest: Some ailments might be embarrassing and some pains may not seem significant, but if you don’t tell your doctor the whole truth, you’re limiting his or her potential to help you. Doctors aren’t mind readers, and they need as much good information as you can give them. Err on the side of confiding too much rather than holding back. If you’re not comfortable sharing intimate information, you may want to find another doctor who can make you more comfortable.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news releases.