Prep For Your Doc Visit!
Educate Yourself
For Better Health
By Joanna Zikos
Cynthia King, author of 100 Questions & Answers About Communicating with Your Healthcare Provider, offers several suggestions to help you obtain the best healthcare possible for you and your family:
Trust is key. Look for a healthcare provider in whom you can trust and with whom you will feel comfortable. Her communication skills — written, verbal, and nonverbal — are very important. She will oversee your care and be your advocate, guiding you through the healthcare system, according to King.
Speak up! Develop your communication skills. Articulate as clearly and vividly as possible what hurts, what you are concerned about, and what outcome you expect. Come in with notes. Take notes while in the office. Communicate with your healthcare provider that you do or don’t understand what he or she is saying. King says the best doctors, nurses, and pharmacists appreciate and in no way resent informed, well-prepared patients.
Honesty is the best policy. As hard as it may be, tell the truth to your healthcare provider. Personal or sometimes embarrassing questions are asked to determine your illness or overall health. “If you are not honest, life-threatening complications may go undetected by your healthcare provider,” King says.
Demand satisfaction. If you are not pleased with your office visit, you should not pay the co-pay or the fee, King says. Don’t be afraid to state your dissatisfaction. You can also contact your insurance company and ask that no fees be paid if you are unhappy with the services provided.
Money talks. Be up front with financial concerns. Let your healthcare provider or staff members know if you do not have health insurance or are worried about paying health related costs. Most people do not know that you can bargain with a doctor, a hospital, and even an insurance company. Healthcare providers can also connect you with various types of financial assistance.
Get it in writing. “Ask for copies of everything,” King says. Have copies of the doctor’s notes with any diagnosis. Have test results sent to you on paper. King recommends keeping a folder with important medical records and information for each family member. “If you don’t want to have a lot of paper around, scan the information and put it on a disc,” she says. “There are also sites online that allow you to store information.”
Bottom line, King asserts that you can — and should — get the healthcare you need. All it takes is a proactive approach and a willingness to demand that your needs are met. She notes that every patient needs to be aware that talking to a healthcare provider about multiple symptoms or ailments should not result in additional charges, in spite of the fact that some states allow that billing practice. During a physical, your health concerns should be addressed. If you need further medical attention, follow-up visits can be scheduled and should be charged appropriately. “While they can legally do it, it is unethical,” King explains. “If the healthcare provider doesn’t have to order additional tests or procedures on that visit, then there is no reason for the extra charges.” She suggests that if you are charged unfairly, you should refuse to pay the extra amount. TCW
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