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