by Kristine Gariepy
In the bustling city of Toronto, one of the most lucrative appointments to get is with a family doctor. Everyone at one point or another needs to go in when an earache just won’t go away, or to get a yearly physical. But before the appointment, did you ever think about preparing to discuss your symptoms? My mom has always prepared lists in advance of visiting the doctor, I often wondered if this actually helps.
Dr. Eric Grief, a Thornhill-based Family Physician and author of the new book, “Get Diagnosed Fast,” offers tips and suggestions on how to get the most of your precious time with your medical professionals. His book is important for anyone who ever leaves an appointment confused or uncertain as to whether they were given the right information or the right diagnosis.
“Get it right the first time,” says Dr. Grief. “Think of the doctor as an exam.”
He’s got a point. I mean, just graduating from University I’d rather not think about studying, but preparing is key. He suggests talking with a family member or friend about how you feel and how you would like to communicate your symptoms or concerns to your doctor. Think of it as directing all your feelings as quickly and accurately as possible.
Time management is also a major aspect to speaking with a doctor. “Take a tape recorder and record yourself speaking as practice,” says Dr. Grief. The mirror works too, but aim to get your spiel under two minutes.
Finally, prepare in advance with outside literature. Surf medical websites for general information. Dr. Grief suggests websites ending in .org or .edu are reputable sources to obtain medical information. He also says that bringing additional information to an appointment might spark added research for a doctor to find out more about an ailment.
So you’ve rehearsed and got it down right. Showtime is at 3 pm at your downtown doctor’s office. But how do you make that even more effective?
Keep Dr. Grief’s tips in mind:
Add key details. Just think of the flu. Everyone catches it, and when there is an outbreak the rush to the doctor can be overwhelming. Dr. Grief suggests adding past medication, current ailments, and symptoms that seem to be out of the ordinary for your body to your list of points.
Another effective way to take action is to add emotion to your story. Asking the doctor what they would do if their own family member might have the same symptoms as you can raise alarm bells for doctor to think outside the box.
Give the doctor feedback. Dr. Grief says if you are the tenth patient of the day with the same ailment, aim to make the doctor listen and not zone out of your appointment. Additionally, it’s okay to agree to disagree. If the doctor dismisses your symptoms, tell them you value their opinion but they should take a closer look at your problem.
“If you’re more prepared in advance,” Dr. Grief says. “You can get in quicker and get out.”
I’m all about organization and time-efficiency this year, [and with Dr. Grief’s advice] I can get my major points across and leave the office feeling like I have all my questions answered. Give it a try; it will be better for your health and life.
For more information visit for book information: www.publishamerica.net
