I was joined by Dr. Marci L. Hardy, PhD, MA, who brings experience in, and passion for, patient advocacy. I could think of no one better to walk us through how to make the best use of the time we have with our doctors as we work to improve our physical and overall health.
Preview of Marci’s recommendations:
Keep a list of any health concerns and how they are specifically interfering with your daily life, ex:
Pain, mobility challenges, GI disress, sleep difficulties, and more
Come to your appointment prepared with the following so more time can be spent addressing your concerns instead of updating your chart:
Updated list of current medications, supplements, & over the counter medications that you use, even occasionally
Lab results or chart notes from other medical providers
When you arrive to your appointment, hand a list of questions/concerns to the person who brings you to the exam room, which will give your doctor time to familiarize themselves with your goals for the visit
If any new treatments are brought up during your appointment, know that it is acceptable (and should be welcomed) for you to ask:
Pros & cons
Side effects
What will be required from you
If it is covered by insurance
More time to to make a decision
Before you leave the office:
Schedule any follow-up appointments
Request information on any new referrals
See if it is possible to complete any future labs before your next appointment so you can review them with your doctor in person
For any new referrals, being a “polite squeaky wheel” can be effective in getting a sooner appointment. Marci’s protocol for referrals:
Follow up with the referral office 3 business days after the referral was made
If they are not ready to schedule you at that time, ask when you should call back to check in, and then set a reminder to do so
Ask to be added to the waitlist, and occasionally check in to kindly remind them of your motivation to be seen earlier
Express your gratitude for anyone involved in your medical care who was especially helpful - it really goes a long way to supporting quality care for everyone!
More about Marci’s work can be found at drmarcihardy.com and @drmarcihardy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instragram.
For more about me, Allison McKeany, check out allisonmckeany.com.
Please remember that this information is meant to educate and inspire but is not medical advice - please consult your healthcare team to determine what is most appropriate for you.
