New Medicine, Same Manners

The contemporary practice of medicine has taken a major shift for physicians and patients alike. The reasons for this shift are multifaceted: managed care, expenses, insurance, technology, and the list goes on and on.
Certainly, physicians and hospitals find challenges and feel a lack of control as they adjust to the rapid changes in the medical field. Similarly, patients must make adjustments as well, in order to feel they have a sense of control over their health care.
Historically, progress has two sides: we usually have great benefits, but also often lose something that is unique to the old way of doing things. Medicine is no different. The solo practice where the patient has a close one-on-one relationship with the “ole family doctor” is becoming rare.
However, this does not mean a patient has to sacrifice a meaningful relationship and excellent medical care with his or her physician who is a member of a large group. It does mean that the patient may have to shift his thinking or adjust her approach.
Patients who take more responsibility for their health and learn to effectively work with the medical system and their physician’s practice can reduce the miscommunication that is a common complaint today.
Some tips to navigate a modern medical system are:
• Be proactive before you get sick, if possible.
• Learn the routine of your physician’s office.
• Try to see the same physician at every appointment to establish a relationship.
• Learn the names of the medical staff.
• Learn when to place a call to the office. Avoid Monday mornings, before lunch and minutes before the office closes.
• Plan ahead for prescription refills. Don’t wait until the last minute or weekends.
• Learn how to navigate the telephone system by asking for the extension number of the nurse and how to get a “live” person.
• Understand the office’s protocol for emergencies.
• Find out what hospital your physician works in. Many medical groups split the hospitals for efficiency. Your physician may not make rounds or have privileges in your preferred hospital.
• Know the people who are providing your care. If the staff or physician does not let you know who they are, introduce yourself and ask their name and title or position.
• Turn off your cell phone! Taking calls during your appointment is rude and disruptive.
• Understand your physician’s protocol for receiving test results. Some offices only call patients with negative test results. If you are in doubt about the expectations or if you are anxious about test results, call the office.
• Keep a home file for each family member that contains all pertinent health information like: lab results, x-ray results health history and immunization history. This can help avoid errors and having to duplicate immunizations. Providing proof of immunizations is essential for school, work, military enlistment and more.
• List medications on a card and keep it in your wallet in case of an emergency hospital visit.
• Adult children of older parents can be more effective advocates if they keep copies of parent’s records.
• Call ahead and see if your physician is running behind if timely appointments are a concern. Ask again when you arrive and check periodically if your wait is getting lengthy.
• Be familiar with the privacy guidelines and be sure to document the family members who are privy to your medical information.
• Consider taking a family member or trusted friend to your appointments. If you are elderly or have serious medical issues, another person can act as an advocate and help prevent errors in information transmission.
• When making an appointment, note if you need to arrive 15 minutes ahead of your appointment time to fill out paperwork.
• Understand that courtesy is very important and infectious on all sides. Make sure you are considerate.
• If you encounter rudeness from a staff member or physician respond kindly. It will often diffuse the behavior. We all have a bad day, but if it is one individual, and the behavior is persistent, let the physician know. They can’t fix a problem if they don’t know about it.
• Change practices if the personalities and attitudes of a particular office are something you can’t live with. Be sure to let the office know why you left.
• Document serious glitches. For instance , if you call multiple times and no one returns your calls, let management know. Your time is valuable and waiting for long periods of time without a response can hold up progress.

Be a partner with your health care providers…it’s good medicine. Here’s to your health!