However, you need to learn to make intelligent use of the phone to get appropriate help from the doctor. The following routine may help you to help the doctor give you the care you need over the telephone:
- Keep a pen and paper ready so that you can write down the relevant instructions.
- Make sure all your medical records are at hand, so that you can answer questions about your medical problem intelligently and accurately.
- Identify yourself properly, giving your full name as well as your diagnosis (try not to tax your doctor's memory!).
- Ask if you can take a few minutes of the doctor's time now, or whether you should call back again this is common courtesy!
- Report specific symptoms. For example, rather than just saying, 'I don't feel well, or I've got the flu,' which can be interpreted in different ways, be prepared to describe your symptoms precisely; for instance, fever, sore throat, cough, and/or body ache.
- When you don't know what you need (for example, you may not be sure how serious the illness is, i.e., if you require a visit to the clinic), tell the staff you're uncertain and request that you speak to a nurse or the doctor's assistant over the phone. Don't be hesitant; if you're feeling concerned or anxious, let the clinic staff know.
- Don't insist on talking only to the doctor every time you call. For example, if you just need to make an appointment, or merely clarify a doubt, the nursing staff or receptionist may be able to help you. To put it differently: respect your doctor's time!
- Don't misuse the phone by trying to wangle a free consultation. Not only is this act unfair to the doctor, but also such a consultation is likely to be very unreliable!
Today, many physicians make themselves an assistant or other staff member available to their patients over the phone. Pre-visit questions and routine follow-up on the phone can save you - and your doctor both time and money. Before making a call, you need to know certain relevant information in advance:
- When is the best time to call?
- What is the doctor's rule for returning calls?
- Whom should you speak with (e.g., assistant, nurse) if the doctor can't come to the phone?
- What is the phone number for making emergency calls or for calls when the office is closed?
- Whom can you call if your doctor is out of town?
Making effective use of the telephone can help to save you and your doctor considerable time, effort and money! Learn to use this instrument wisely and well.
Many doctors today are happy to answer your queries by email - and this can be very helpful if your doctor is in a different city. Please find out from your doctor what his policy about email queries is!
It's a good idea to carry written checklists with you during every visit. You may have a wide range of questions you would like to ask the doctor, but as a result of the stress generated by the consultation you often forget most of them. Such a situation is very frustrating, and you kick yourself when you get home. To prevent this, it is prudent to write down all the questions you need to ask, in order of priority. It is also helpful to write down the doctor's answers. Studies have shown that patients forget about 50 per cent of what the doctor tells them during a visit! Writing down the doctor's answers will prevent such a 'disaster'! Moreover, your doctor also stands to benefit because you need not pester him with your queries all over again!
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility
