Easy Ways to Improve Your Relationship With Your Doctor

Ask your doctor how electronic health records can help you monitor your health.
If you get sick at midnight, you can wake your spouse, or even tell work you won't be coming the next day. But some people - at least, those in particular who have good relationships with their doctors - can send their physician an instant email so they know what's going on. Such interactions may be part of the reason that patients who have good relationships with their patients have better health outcomes, as a new study has found.

Logically, this means that people who visit their doctors are more likely to go and see them well, treat them honestly and listen to them carefully. The study, conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital doctors and published in PLOS One, analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials, in which doctors trained to improve the way they interact with patients. If the doctor's relationship with the doctor has improved, the patient's health has also improved, for example, through weight loss or blood pressure reduction. In fact, the researchers said the overall improvement in 13 studies is equivalent to an increase in daily exposure to aspirin.

"Although the effect was small, it is not smaller than other interventions [such as taking aspirin] that have been widely suggested," said Helen Reyes, author of the study, MD, sympathizer and director of the Relative Science program at Expert General. Said.

Good relationships with doctor's patients can improve health outcomes before, for example, a study that found that diabetes patients were more successful in monitoring their blood sugar when their doctor was more It is sympathetic, said Rodney Tucker, MD, Chief MP Officer. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System was not involved in the study. Tucker said detection is "common sense".

Remember that this is a two-way street, while doctors are working on ways to effectively train doctors to build better relationships with Rice and his fellow patients.

10 ways to improve your relationship with your doctor:

1. Prepare for your appointment. It's more than just arriving at the office on time. Dr. Tucker said that you should bring all your current medicines (prescriptions or prescriptions) to your appointment, as well as include notes on key facts. That you have a flu pill at a health clinic. Write down any recent health problems or concerns you already have, so be sure to bring them up.

2. Prioritize your worries. It's true that doctors are pressured for time, but that doesn't mean you have to adjust your needs to fit within a 30-minute window, says the Duke University School of Medicine physician. James Tulsky, head of care, said. Rice suggested making a list of things you want to talk about and telling your doctor how many things he or she has at the beginning of the appointment. He said how many items on your list could reach your doctor today, and if all of them were not addressed, talk about another appointment.

3. Don't just share the complaint, share the chief concern. For example, it is more natural to tell your doctor about the pain in your knees, such as a particular problem. But it's equally important to explain what your primary concerns are, "Rice said. You may have anxiety about whether you need surgery for your knee, because the surgery is bothering you, or because you need someone to look after your children. If you do not share your concerns, your doctor cannot answer them, and remember - doctors, too, are trained to address your concerns.

4. Make sure you go with the information you need. At a doctor's appointment, it can be difficult to say if you do not understand how to take the medication or to follow up with you. What do you need "It feels like you're interrupting," Tilsky said? But when you leave the office, you are responsible for your care, so you have to make sure that all your questions, including emotional concerns, are met. Tilsky also noted that research shows that doctors respond more strongly if a patient raises a question twice.

5. Record your visit, or bring someone to take notes. Getting a doctor's appointment often requires information, especially if you face a major, serious health challenge. You can be helpful along with taking note and asking questions to a spouse, friend, or family member, said David Longworth, MD, chairman of the Cleveland Clinic's Medicine Institute. Alternatively, you can record your visit so that you can refer to information later, Tilsky said - just make sure you ask your physician if this is okay.

6. Ask how to reach your doctor after hours. Each doctor will have a separate priority, and some offices have systems in place, so it is important to ask your doctor how you should be contacted in case of a medical issue that occurs outside of regular hours. If you already know the connection system, there is one less thing to worry about when you are really experiencing a medical crisis.

7. Learn how to use electronic health records. EHRs should not be just for doctors - new electronic health records should, you should also make it easier to manage your care. Find out if your doctor's office is using EHRs, and find out how you can use the access portal. Signing up to use the EHR allows you to have more access to your records and educational materials, and gives you a secure system for emailing your doctor, Tulsky said.

8. Let them know if you've been to another doctor. Whether it is a specialist, an emergency care situation, or an appointment someday when your doctor is out, it is important to make sure that your primary physician receives the other medical care you need. is about. EHRs make it easy to exchange information if the doctor is in the same system, but always be sure to ask that the record of the visit be sent to your primary care doctor. Tucker suggested that, with contact information, it would be faster to pick up your doctor's card.

9. If your doctor is not meeting your needs, bring it. It can be difficult to tell your doctor that there are parts of your care that you care about, but all four doctors said that it is important that you do so. "Sometimes they just need to say 'this is not working,'" said Tulsi, and they will try to fix it.

10. Find another doctor. If you have been exposed to the problems you are having with your doctor and it seems that nothing has changed, you should freely find a new one. "It's all about trusting and trusting someone you are putting your life into," said Dr Longworth. If you have any doubts about your doctor's medical qualifications or don't feel you have a good relationship, look elsewhere, said Longworth.