How Patients Can Make Their Physician Office Visit a Successful One

How Patients Can Make Their Physician Office Visit a Successful One

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It is critical for patients to get the most out of their appointment with their doctor, as face-to-face time is limited. While doctors are tied down with their EHR documentation requirements and busy schedules, patients are concerned about

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Several reports highlight that doctors only look at patient history and actively ignore most of what is said by patients. So, making every moment they get with doctors count is crucial for patients. Preparation for this should begin even before a patient enters the office.

How patients can get the most out of their one-on-one time with the doctor?

Choose the best time for appointment It would be good if you could get the earliest appointment in the morning or the first appointment after lunch. A recent JAMA study found that the time of your doctor’s visit can also affect the quality of your care. Most cancer screening tests were ordered more often for patients with morning appointment. The study highlighted that as the hours of the day progressed, doctors were less likely to order these tests. Running late and decision fatigue can lead to poor decision making. As doctors get more tired late in the day, they may choose to write an antibiotic prescription rather than taking the time to explain to patients why it is necessary. Decision fatigue can also be the result of other factors like scheduling issues and rushed visits, forcing a doctor to spend less time with a patient and make more decisions.

Be on-time for your doctor’s appointment Arrive at your doctor’s office on-time, even if you may have to wait there for more time than you expected to meet the doctor. Reaching the doctor’s office before your actual appointment time gives you time to fill out paperwork and go www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com

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through the routine steps of the visit, like a blood pressure check, blood test and more.

Prepare questions to ask Preparing a detailed checklist before an office visit can help you ask more questions during the doctor visit and you will be more satisfied from the visit.

Include notes of your concerns such as your symptoms, increase or decrease in appetite, lack of good sleep, pain in any body areas, and more.

List and prioritize your questions Create a list of all important questions you have to ask your doctor. If you have listed too many questions, which you do not think will be over in a session, prioritize your list with the most urgent questions at the top. If you announce that you have a list of questions at the beginning of the appointment, your doctor may be able to plan some time to answer your questions.

Take necessary records and medications with you Take everything with you --paperwork you were supposed to fill out or medical histories you were expected to bring. Make sure to have details of the prescription drugs you are taking now or bring a list of everything you take and the dose. Also, remember to take your insurance cards, names and details of other doctors you see, and your medical records if the doctor doesn’t already have them.

Bring a family member or a close friend with you Make sure to take your friend or any loved one with you to the doctor’s office, if your health status is complex or if you have conditions like dementia. Your companion can take notes for you and help you remember what the doctor said.

He or she can also help keep the conversation on track with the provider.

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Request another appointment if necessary Schedule multiple appointments, if you are facing a number of complicated issues. Every patient needs all their concerns to be addressed with ample time and attention. But if there’s something more for you to ask, ask for a follow-up appointment. A single visit may not be fine for addressing multiple health issues or complex medical problems of a patient.

Make sure that the doctor is really listening to you during the exam. Even if you get only 10 minutes, make sure to use these precious moments wisely and get the most out of each appointment. Professional U.S.

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