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Th e E xce ptional Pati ent Experienc e
How to…
For more information call (800) 213-3284.
… talk to your primary care provider
M Michael Antil, M.D.
ichael Antil, M.D., describes the relationship between primary care provider and patient as a “team effort” based on the willingness of each to communicate freely with the other. “Everything we talk about is open for discussion,” he says. “You’re here to let me help you.” As a specialist in internal medicine with Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Dr. Antil sees patients with physical ailments that might range from sore throat to chest pain. The relationship may last for years and often does. From the beginning, Dr. Antil has a message for his patients. “I tell every patient on day one ‘I’m not going to get mad at you,’” he says. That’s Dr. Antil’s way of encouraging patients to speak frankly and openly. He advises coming to any appointment with an agenda of the matters you want to discuss. Dr. Antil—and any other provider, he suspects—will have an agenda, too. A successful appointment will combine the two. “Don’t be afraid to let your doctor know what your agenda is,” he says. “Having it written down makes sense.” Central to any appointment is updated information on your current medications as well as a basic understanding of the services your insurance company will and will not provide. If nothing else, bring along a formulary, a listing of the medications your insurance company will cover and their payment level. Think of your primary care provider as the “first detective on the scene,” Dr. Antil advises. “Tell me everything,” he says. “Tell me what you’re feeling. A doctor who doesn’t listen is going to miss something, so it’s your job to tell us everything. You’re in that body, and I’m not. You’re an invaluable resource to figure this out.”
… talk to your hospitalist
U Jenifir Bruno, M.D.
nlike the primary care provider who follows you on a routine basis, your hospitalist will see you only during your hospital stay. Depending on the length of your hospitalization, you may even have more than one hospitalist, but all will be familiar with your case and each will be committed to your care. (See a related story on page 20) Since it’s just as important to communicate with your hospitalist as with your regular provider, having a family member or friend with you can help, says Jenifir Bruno, M.D., the assistant medical director of Moore Regional Hospital’s Hospitalist Service. The need can be even more critical with patients who are elderly or confused. “It’s important for the family to tell us what’s going on, to give us background, especially if the patient can’t do it,” Dr. Bruno says. “Patients do much better here if they have someone who is familiar to them.” While electronic medical records give the hospitalist access to the patient’s medical history and personal background, not all primary care practices use them and some patients – especially young adults – don’t have an established primary care relationship. A knowledgeable relative or friend can provide current information about medications, patient functionality (the ability to walk and talk normally and feed oneself) and social life (whether the patient smokes or drinks) if the patient can’t do it himself. “This helps us determine the patient’s (health) baseline and what is new,” Dr. Bruno says. “It’s important for us to have this information.”
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