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[NARRATOR] Communication is a two way street, and the road to
health is full of traffic jams, intersections, construction zones, close calls, and even accidents.
Strong communication with your doctor and other health care professionals can help
you prevent these issues, and preparation is essential.
This video will give you some tips on how to prepare for your medical appointment.
[DR. MATTHEW MEMOLI] A person should prepare for their doctor's visit as if they
were preparing for really anything you might do in your life, whether it be something as simple as shopping or
something more complicated like a doctor's visit, you have a goal.
So you should sit down and say "what is my goal,
what do I want to get out of this visit."
Think about "what questions do I want answered, what do you not want to leave
the doctor's office without knowing.
And if you have a plan going in, then you're much more likely to be successful.
[DR. LAUREN WOOD] What's the problem?
How long have you had the problem?
How long has it been affecting you?
Have you done anything yourself to try to address the issues of the problem?
What do you think is going on? The symptoms that you're having,
how long you've had them, how much they're affecting you.
All of these kinds of information will be very, very helpful to the physician and allow you all
to have an efficient exchange so that you can cover everything that needs to be covered.
[NARRATOR] Nothing you notice is too small, even if it
seems unrelated.
[DR. MATTHEW MAMOLI] Whether it's a prescribed medication or any kind of
supplement, or even if it's an activity like acupuncture or massage, any kind of alternative treatments, vitamins,
supplements, things that you might get at the gym, for example, for exercise, even things
like energy drinks that are pretty common today, can impact your health, and can interact
with medications you might be taking.
Mention these things to your physician so they at least know what you're doing.
Most physicians today I think would ask if you're using some of these products,
but you need to really think it through and tell your physician.
I mean even if you're doing a special diet, you should explain that to your physician so that
they know what you're doing because it can impact your health.
[NARRATOR] Your health care provider needs the whole picture to do
their job. It's easy to forget something in the moment,
so writing down your symptoms can be helpful.
[DR. LAUREN WOOD] I tell people all the time, come in with your list of
questions, because it's almost kind of like the grocery store list.
You write everything down, but you know there's always one thing that you forgot,
and it's the same way when you're with your health care provider.
You're there in the encounter, you're asking your questions, and as soon as you get out
the door, you go "I forgot to ask them this."
Coming into your appointment with your providers with a list of questions is often very
helpful because then you don't forget.
[NARRATOR] With all the health information online, you may have
already searched for your symptoms, or have specific questions or concerns about what you found.
The amount of health information online can be overwhelming, and not all of it is legitimate.
[DR. MATTHEW MAMOLI] So there's lots of sources to get information on the web
about health care, and whether that's a site that has more accurate information, or a forum where you're
chatting with other people who have a symptom or maybe take a certain medication and comment on their
experience, you can get a wide variety of quality of information.
As a physician, I personally have no problem with people looking on the web at
information, but what they need to do is not use that information as a way to
self-diagnose or make decisions, but use that information as a way to maybe plan their
visit with the doctor.
[NARRATOR] Be sure to ask your health professional about the
information you find or for additional resources. Also, consider bringing a close friend or family member with
you. This can help you remember key symptoms and fill in the communication gaps.
Your body is complicated and there's a lot to consider, so preparation can help you get
the best treatment.
[DR. MATTHEW MAMOLI] Doctor patient communication is a major issue
because, as a physician, our job is to help people live healthy, functional lives.
And in order to that, we need to have good communication, and it's a two way street,
meaning the doctor needs to participate in the process as well as the patient.
[NARRATOR] Preparing for your medical visit can make your
communication more effective, and in turn, make the road to good health a whole lot smoother.
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