August 2006
The Case for Consumerism
Health care consumerism is a relatively new term that you're likely to hear more and more. In general, it refers to the effect a consumer's choices have on the rising cost of health care.
Consumerism seeks to make us more accountable, knowledgeable and actively engaged in managing our health. It empowers us to affect health care costs by:
- Promoting the proper use of health care services
- Encouraging a healthier lifestyle
If we have the information, skills and tools to meet our health care needs and expectations, we likely will make informed choices, just as we do for other purchases of goods and services. Hopefully, the day will come when we devote the same thought to purchasing health care services as we do to buying a car.
The next few issues of Steps to Good Health will focus on helping you to be a better health care consumer. This issue focuses on communicating effectively with your doctor.
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| Communicating with Your Doctor |
You are in a health partnership with your doctor, so you need to be an active participant in your care.
Communication is a two-way street. While many doctors could stand to improve their communication skills, there are good reasons why you also need to be an effective communicator. They include:
- Doctor appointments are usually limited to 15 minutes or less, so it's important to be prepared and organized.
- Your doctor's ability to determine what is wrong and how to treat it depends almost entirely on how well you and your doctor communicate.
- Science has provided many useful medications and tests, but your doctor's decision to order a test or prescribe a medication most often depends on the information you provide.
You must:
- Be prepared for your visit
- State your concerns clearly and honestly
- Ask questions about your illness and its treatment
- Express concerns or problems with prescribed treatments
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Developed by Donald J. Cegala, Ph.D., professor of communication and family medicine at Ohio State University, the PACE system can help you stay on track during your office visit.
In general, effective patient communication involves:
Presenting detailed information on how you are feeling,
Asking questions if desired information is not provided,
Checking your understanding of the information that is given to you, and
Expressing any concerns about the recommended treatment. |
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| Tips on Making an Appointment |
Your stated reason for making an appointment determines how much time is set aside by the doctor for your appointment.
- To make sure enough time is set aside for your needs, be as open and honest as possible about the reason for your visit. If you think extra time will be needed for your visit, say so.
- If you are concerned about how long you may have to wait to see the doctor, try making your appointment for the first time slot in the morning or the first available time after lunch. On the day of your appointment, you may also want to call the doctor's office before leaving home or work to see if he or she is on schedule.
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It's important for your primary care doctor to have up-to-date information on all tests and procedures done by other doctors since your last visit.
- If you're referred to a specialist, it's also important to ask if you should bring copies of recent test results.
- You should always ask specialists to send your primary care doctor a copy of any new test or procedure results.
- You may also want to ask for a personal copy of results.
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| Questions for Your Doctor |
In addition to being a good listener and organizing all the questions you have, make sure to discuss with your doctor any self-treatments you have used, regardless of their success or failure. Don't hold back information out of concern that the doctor will disapprove.
This includes everything from alternative treatments (such as acupuncture or chiropractic care) and common sense remedies (taking a warm bath or a nap) to over-the-counter medications (aspirin, cough syrup and more) and vitamins or other supplements.
Attached are two useful forms that can help you get the most out of your visits with your doctor:
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You may want additional details about your condition or your treatment. It's important to ask the right questions.
For example, you may want to know more about:
- Diagnosis and prognosis
- Tests or procedures
- Medications
- Other treatments
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The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. If you
have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical
professional.
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