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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talking to Your Doctor - Questions to Ask & Other
Suggestions
By Frank Jordan
The key to
successful healthcare is for you, the patient, to take an active and informed
role in your health care. You and your doctor must work together to achieve your
return to and maintenance of good health. Communication in a direct and
non-confrontational manner is essential. Following are some questions to ask
your doctor to make informed decisions and to stay apprised of your status:
About My
Disease or Disorder...
·
What is my
diagnosis?
·
What caused my
condition?
·
Can my condition
be treated?
·
How will this
condition affect me physically now? In the future?
·
Should I watch
for any particular symptoms and notify you if they occur?
·
Should I make any
lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, rest or stress reduction?
About My
Treatment...
·
What is the
preferred treatment for my condition?
·
When will the
treatment start, and how long will it last?
·
What are the
estimated cost and will insurance cover same?
·
What are the
benefits of this treatment, and how successful has it been for others?
·
What are the
risks and side effects associated with this treatment, including any drug
regimen?
·
Are there foods,
drugs, or activities I should avoid while I'm on this treatment?
·
If my treatment
includes taking a medication, what are the potential risk and what should I do
if I miss a dose?
·
Are other
treatments available – allopathic or alternative?
·
Are there any
vitamins or supplements beneficial in the treatment?
About My Tests...
·
What kinds of
tests will I have?
·
What do you
expect to find out from these tests?
·
When will I know
the results?
·
Do I have to do
anything special to prepare for any of the tests?
·
Do these tests
have any side effects or risks?
·
Will I need more
tests later?
Additional Suggestions...
·
If you don't
understand your doctor's responses, ask questions until you do understand.
·
Take your doctor
a current list of all medications being taken and all taken in the previous
year.
·
Prepare a written
history of family illnesses.
·
Take notes, or
get a friend or family member to take notes for you. Or, bring a tape-recorder
to assist in your recollection of the discussion.
·
Ask your doctor
to write down his or her instructions to you in legible form.
·
Ask your doctor
for printed material about your condition.
·
If you still have
trouble understanding your doctor's answers, ask where you can go for more
information.
·
Other members of
your health care team, such as nurses and pharmacists, can be good sources of
information. Talk to them, too.
·
Notify your
health care provider immediately if any negative responses occur to treatment or
medications – particularly drug side effects.
Listen to
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise each Weekday live to learn more about Health and the
way to have a quality and quantity of life!
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For More Information Contact:
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
317 Industrial Circle, Liberty, TX 77575
Tel: 888-541-3997
Internet: hwwshow@nsc24.com
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I M - An International Hope Ministry to Deliver Truth and
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