| It is official...Marcus Welby is dead! His | | | | about his family Doctors are human beings |
| assassins, managed care and medical | | | | with human lives and problems.When a patient |
| malpractice are still at large.The days of | | | | asked about my family my engine automatically |
| house calls and familiarity between doctor | | | | slowed down and a smile came to my face.I was |
| and patient are going the way of vinyl | | | | grateful for the break in the action.I found |
| records. What may be surprising to many is | | | | myself making sure that all of that patient's |
| that the majority of doctors are just as | | | | questions were answered.Ask your doctor how |
| angry and frustrated with the situation as | | | | the malpractice crisis is affecting him When |
| the patients.As a physician, I have had the | | | | patients asked me this question I always |
| opportunity to experience this dilemma from | | | | forgot how busy I was. I gave them a |
| both sides; as a doctor and as a patient. The | | | | passionate answer. I made sure all their |
| following 7 tips include gestures that I | | | | questions were answered and that they were |
| responded to favorably as a doctor and | | | | satisfied before they left the office.Ask |
| actions that aided me as a patient.Have your | | | | your doctor how the healthcare crisis is |
| insurance and personal information updated | | | | affecting him. I loved it when patients asked |
| and ready prior to your visit. Nothing slows | | | | me this question. It gave me a chance to |
| down the front office more than unprepared | | | | explain the problems with managed care and |
| patients.If all patients are prepared with | | | | how the increasing doctor shortage was |
| the above information the office staff is | | | | influencing patient volume and waiting time. |
| less stressed, delays are avoided, and the | | | | I always walked away from that patient |
| amount of time you spend waiting for the | | | | encounter feeling a little lighter. the |
| doctor is reduced.This tip avoids stress on | | | | patient usually walked away with a bag of any |
| both sides of the fence.Have a list of your | | | | drug samples he needed. At the end of the |
| current medications with you at your visit. | | | | day, after seeing 50 patients and answering |
| You would be surprised how many patients take | | | | countless phone calls, that patient's name |
| medication without knowing the name or dose | | | | and face remained in my mind.Use the first 4 |
| of what they are taking.Take responsibility | | | | tips to be a responsible patient and to take |
| for your health by knowing what you are | | | | ownership of your health. Use the last 3 to |
| putting into your body.In a busy primary care | | | | be a human being, and to help your doctor |
| office medication changes sometimes may not | | | | remember why he became a doctor in the first |
| be charted. This can cause the wrong | | | | place.Dr. Messina became a Board Certified |
| medication to be prescribed on a refill | | | | Family Practitioner in 1985. He had a solo |
| request.Knowing your medication name and dose | | | | practice until 1994. At that time he helped |
| helps prevent medication errors.Have a list | | | | form a group Family Practice in which he was |
| of your symptoms with you at your visit. You | | | | Vice President. He left group practice in |
| can help your doctor arrive at a speedy, | | | | 1997 and became Medical Director of a |
| accurate diagnosis by having a list of | | | | Wellness Center. He was responsible for |
| symptoms which are specific to your | | | | coordinating the efforts of nutritionists, |
| complaint.This saves the doctor from having | | | | acupuncturists, massage therapists, exercise |
| to perform a complete review of systems to | | | | physiologists, and Chinese medicine |
| look for clues.Have a list of questions | | | | practitioners into patient care plans.He |
| prepared. Prepare a few reasonable questions | | | | entered clinical research in 2000. He has |
| for your visit,keeping in mind that time is a | | | | been the Principal Investigator in over 50 |
| factor.Common questions come up | | | | clinical trials involving osteoarthritis, |
| frequently,and in many cases the nurse can | | | | diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, |
| give you an adequate answer.If the nurse is | | | | chronic pain, depression, anxiety, dry eye, |
| unable to answer your question she will often | | | | migraine, and diabetes prevention. He has |
| alert the doctor to the question before you | | | | served as a consultant to a nutritional |
| are seen.This often helps the doctor prepare | | | | company, and has formulated nutritional |
| in advance, so your question can be answered | | | | supplements.Visit Dr. |
| in a rapid, concise manner.Ask your doctor | | | | |