Doctor consultation : Preparation Before meeting the doctor

The doctor consultation is focused on prescribing you the correct treatment. You often have more unanswered questions than answers. These are some important tips to prepare before meeting the doctor.

Know your doctor

Area of specialization

Make sure you know his specialty before your consult. Best places to see the details of specialization are doctor search sites like Practo (best)  and   Lybrate. Social media sites like Linked-in(best) and   Twitter.

Doctor’s Reviews

These reviews may not reflect the competence of a doctor.

It gives an idea about an individual’s experience with the doctor.

These reviews are more a reflection of how organized the doctor’s office is and how much attention the staff gives to the individual patients.

Peer reviews

Social media sites like Linked-in provide the option of endorsement of the skills of the peers. It gives a better idea about skills and popularity among peer doctors. 

Know clinic/hospital

Besides location and timing, you should also have an idea of how medications will be procured and the test will be done.

In-house pharmacy and pathology/diagnostics should always be preferred as it ensures quality and availability.

Understand your disease before Doctor consultation

On the first visit

You should ask your doctor to advise you about the source from where you should search for your condition.

Do not search on the internet to make a clinical diagnosis or identify the disease before consulting the doctor.

let the doctor see the patient and, at the end of the consultation, ask him to make you understand the  disease ( diagnosed or suspected) in layman terms

Many doctors have patient information literature available in their offices.

On subsequent visits

Doctors and other health staff will be naturally more communicative if you can understand their terminologies and language and have some idea about your medical condition.

You should know about

1. How the disease is investigated.

2. What are the usual treatment options available for disease/ medical condition?

3. What is the usual outcome of the disease.

4. The natural course of the disease

5. Terminologies and technical terms used by the doctor.

Organize your medical records

It can not be emphasized enough. 

keep your medical records organized in chronological order.

Retain the older prescriptions of previous doctors.

 Save test and investigation report after treatment is over.

Scan and save them digitally. A mobile camera is good enough for the job.

Keep a record of your vital parameters like blood group, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, vision in mobile phone.

Keep your questions ready

Always go prepared with the issues you want to discuss with the doctor.

Most successful doctors are busy, and you might not get time to think about the different issues, in his/her clinic.

If the doctor could not answer all your questions, he/she will delegate someone in support staff to clarify your doubts.

Provide complete information to the doctor during Doctor consultation.

Beside previous medical records,  provide the doctor accurate information regarding

The onset of complaints and courses.

The medication was taken, medications missed, self-medication. ( which doctor will make out anyways)

Addiction, sexual encounters, etc.

During the consultation doctor.

If you are not satisfied with consultation or treatment, feel free to discuss it with the doctor.

If you want to have a second opinion, discuss it with your doctor, he/she can suggest a competent doctor for that.

Avoid making negative remarks about any other doctor.

If you find the treatment expensive or inconvenient, discuss with your doctor, he can suggest the way out.

Check out the list before you leave the doctor’s office after consultation.

You know before you leave the doctor

The disease you are suffering or the doctor is suspecting you to have.

 What are the test ordered and how would they help in your treatment.

 Medications and schedule to have them.

 Precaution.

 Possible complications of treatment.

When you have to come again.

Things to monitor while on treatment.

Sources for extra information about your condition.

Contact person and contact number for any further quarries.

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