Working Together With Your Doctor

Be an Active Part of Your Healthcare Team

Jan 13, 2008

You're not only part of your health care team, you are the most important part! Learn to be more involved in your own health care by working together with your doctor.

Playing an active role in your own health care means much more than showing up for your appointments on time! There are many things that you can do to work as a team with your doctor and other healthcare providers to attain the most successful outcome possible from your treatment.

Learn about your condition: Do whatever it takes to learn as much as you can about your condition. You may want to stop by the library, ask your doctor for some literature on the subject, or continue reading on Suite 101.com to get the answers that you need.
Remember your healthcare team members' names, and address them as such: For example, your doctor will appreciate being called "Dr. Thornton," rather than just "doctor." The nurse that is so good to you in his office might be surprised a bit when you call her by name. Don't forget the receptionist that makes your appointments, either. Remembering all of these names may take some doing, but believe me, there is a benefit for your hard work. Each of them has only your name to remember -- and they will remember you as a polite and knowledgeable patient who might just deserve a little extra attention.
Ask questions: You will undoubtedly have lots of questions for the doctor. Write them down before you leave home! Forgotten questions are a very common problem at the doctor's office. Most people remember the questions they forgot to ask as soon as they get back home. If you keep them written down and in your hand while you're at the office, your doctor will usually notice and ask you what questions that you have. Another tip -- write down the answers, too.
Keep your doctor informed: Your doctor can forget to ask some questions, too. Let him know if there are any changes in your condition. Also let him know about any pain you may be feeling, changes in sleep or eating patterns, or even about anxiety that you may be feeling. Anxiety about cancer is perfectly normal. Your doctor may be able to help.
Take along a trusted "listener": Choose a 'designated listener' to accompany you to the doctor. Stress and anxiety can produce a sort of doctor's office amnesia. It's always better to come away from your appointment knowing more than when you went in, and having another set of ears to help is a great idea.

Build an Advocacy Notebook

A two inch binder should be good to start your advocacy notebook. Keep this notebook with you at all of your appointments, and add new pages as needed. Your advocacy notebook should contain:

your basic information, such as name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, etc. Don't forget to put a photo, too.
Photocopy of insurance cards, list of current medications that includes any vitamins, herbals or over the counter medicines, and any allergies you may have.
Names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors and treatment facilities you are using now or have used in the recent past.
Dates and locations of all recent procedures, tests, or surgeries, who performed them, and the results or outcome.

Any one of your service providers might benefit from having a copy of something in your advocacy notebook, but DO NOT hand out the originals, as they can be difficult to replace.

Don't forget -- you are the most important member of your health care team.